Shropshire drink drive arrests soar by 45 per cent
The number of motorists arrested for drink driving in Shropshire has risen by about 45 per cent in the space of almost two years, new figures have revealed.
More than 500 people were stopped by police and arrested during 2013 -?? 414 were prosecuted. It is a significant increase on the 359 arrests between April 2011 and March 2012 and the 377 recorded the previous year.
The worst offender among the 522 people arrested last year was found to have 157 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.
Another offender had 221 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, almost three times over the legal limit of 80. And 150 milligrammes of alcohol was found in 100 millilitres of urine in a third offender, well over the legal limit of 107.
Of the 414 people prosecuted in 2013, 367 were from the United Kingdom.
The second highest represented nation was Poland with 16 people prosecuted for drink drive offences, while nine were from Lithuania and seven from Latvia.
Meanwhile, 190 people were arrested for drink driving in Powys during 2013. The highest reading was 255 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of urine.
Superintendent Nav Malik, from West Mercia Police, said drink driving remains a priority for the force and warned offenders that they will lose their licence if caught.
He said: "??Sadly, across West Mercia we still do arrest a number of people each week for drink driving.
"??Some of those arrested are breathalysed because they were speeding or driving erratically, while others are stopped during routine checks.
"Those found guilty of drink driving are very likely to lose their licences for at least a year, may lose their jobs if they have to drive for work, will face increased insurance premiums when they regain their licences, and may face problems travelling to certain countries, including the USA.
"??It is not an issue about the age of or type of driver, these are people who clearly know the law and try to put themselves above it, risking death or serious injuries to other road users and themselves."
"??Although we publicise our festive drink drive campaign most prominently, motorists are always warned that enforcing the drink driving law is a year round, 24 hours a day, seven days a week activity for police and that it will remain a priority for us."?
Star comment: Sobering truth with statistics
