THE number of people arrested in Wokingham for drink-driving offences over the Christmas period has soared by nearly 300% compared with the previous year.
During the period December 1 to January 1 2014, only four people were arrested on Wokingham’s roads by Thames Valley Police (TVP). However, for the same period in 2015, 15 people were arrested, an increase of 275%.
TVP carried out dedicated patrols regularly over the festive period to deter and detect motorists suspected of putting lives in danger.
The number of arrests across the Thames Valley increased as well from 273 in 2014 to 325 in 2015. Of those arrested across the region, 198 have been charged, 90 were bailed, and 37 have been released with no further action taken.
Men were also the most prolific drink-drivers, with 272 men being arrested compared with 53 women, with the average age of the person arrested being 35. The oldest person arrested during the 2015 period was 87. The youngest person arrested was just 17.
The actions of officers on patrol were supported by the ‘Where will you end up tonight?’ campaign, which carried the hard-hitting theme of a mortuary to emphasise the fatal consequences of drink-driving.
Thames Valley Police Road Safety Sergeant Chris Appleby said: “It’s crucial that we never forget the fatal consequences of drink and drug-driving.
“Any road user – be it drivers, passengers or pedestrians – can suffer life-changing injuries as a result of a drink-drive incident, and family members can suffer the devastating emotional effects from such tragedies.
“It’s just not worth the risk, and the our commitment to campaigning on this issue remains vigorous, as demonstrated by the fact that there is an increase in the number of arrests made during the campaign compared with the previous year’s figure.”
