Child, 14, arrested during Christmas crackdown on drink or drug driving

A 14-year-old child was among almost 300 people arrested during the Police Service of Northern Ireland's (PSNI) Christmas crackdown on drink and drug driving.

Figures released on Friday show that the oldest person arrested during that period was an 82-year-old.

Between 1 December 2025 and 1 January 2026, police arrested 288 people for drink or drug driving - compared to 300 for the same period last year.

The highest reading for alcohol/drugs in blood was almost five times the legal limit. Police also detected nearly 5,700 speeding offences.

The police arrested an average of nine people per day during the campaign.

Chief Superintendent Sam Donaldson described the "level of detections" as "shocking".

"All of these drivers made a conscious decision to drive in the way they did," he said.

"Their selfish and reckless actions placed themselves, their passengers and all other road users in danger."

There have been four deaths on Northern Ireland's roads so far this year, while 56 people died on the roads in 2025.

"These deaths are "more than statistics," stated Donaldson.

"These deaths are catastrophic, devastating losses for loved ones left behind, for their friends and communities."

He asked the public to "think about your safety, that of your passengers and of all other roads users," before driving.

Preliminary figures also show that the PSNI recorded 35 offences for not wearing a seat belt and 75 people were detected for using a mobile phone during the period.

During the campaign, the most arrests (56) were in Belfast while the Londonderry and Strabane area saw the largest drop in arrests - 23 - down from 40 last year.

Some 79% of those arrested were male, while the number of female drivers taken into custody rose from 37 to 61.