Record number arrested in drink-drive crackdown

A record number of people have been arrested in a Christmas drink and drug-driving crackdown, Sussex Police has said.

The force said it had arrested 279 people over the festive period, with 97 charged so far and some already convicted.

Officers were out across the county providing education and enforcement as part of the annual operation, which ran from 1 December to 1 January.

Chief Constable Jo Shiner said: "I'm extremely disappointed that so many people continue to risk their life - and others' – by getting behind the wheel while intoxicated."

Shiner, whose father was killed in a road collision when she was a teenager, told BBC Radio Sussex: "Drink-driving and drug-driving is just not acceptable.

"It disappoints me hugely, but I'm not sure it surprises me.

"We are seeing a wide range of people who know the risks, accept the risks and seem to think it is okay."

She added: "If you drive after drinking or taking drugs at any time of year in Sussex you are highly likely to get stopped."

A total of 165 arrests were made for drug-driving during the campaign and 134 for drink-driving.

Some were arrested on suspicion of both offences, making a total of 279 individuals arrested.

Of the arrests made, 243 were male, 51 female and five unspecified.

This compares with 270 arrests made in the campaign in 2024 and 261 in 2023.

The force said it heavily publicised the campaign in an effort to raise awareness of the risks of drink and drug-driving, including multiple social media posts, leaflets, posters and petrol pump messages.

It said it would continue to publicly identify anyone convicted of drink or drug-driving to raise awareness of the issue and to act as a deterrent to others from committing the same offence.

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