Beat Speak: Don’t go drink-driving over the festive period

Well, that’s it. Another Christmas Day done. I hope you all had a happy and safe time. You are most likely trying to figure out how to work your new gadgets or making a dash for the Boxing Day sales to make an early start on next Christmas’ list.

During the break I have been spending time at home with my family but, ever on duty, I have also been supporting my officers who have continued to work hard over the festive period.

Let’s face it, now that Christmas has passed, New Year’s Eve is on all our minds.

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If you are heading into Mansfield town centre or surrounding towns to celebrate, why not just leave your car at home?

We launched our ‘Fatal 4’ campaign last summer, and I want to remind you that driving while under the influence of drink or drugs, using your phone when behind the wheel, speeding, or not wearing your seatbelt are the top four reasons why we have death and serious injury on our roads.

Do you know yourself well enough to know your limits? Would you be willing to put yourself and your friends at risk just for the sake of one drink? Don’t risk ruining your night, someone else’s night or potentially ruining entire lives. The penalties imposed by the courts for drinking and driving can also be significant with recent cases in Worksop attracting three-year bans in addition to heavy fines.

Whether you’re a driver, passenger, or a pedestrian, make sure you take extra care this New Year’s Eve. Take responsibility for yourself and your family and friends to ensure you don’t become another statistic.

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We will be out in force on New Year’s Eve, so if you see us, make sure you are acting responsibly and looking after your mates.

While the festive time is, for many, a chance to relax and enjoy being with our family and friends, I would like to remind you not to relax your personal safety this winter.

And if you’re planning a quiet New Year’s Eve this year, make sure to keep your house secure by locking doors and windows and keeping your valuables out of sight of burglars.

We have seen a number of burglaries this year with an additional 25 victims of crime; however, I hope that we can work together in the New Year to stop burglars getting the better of our community.

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Don’t advertise that you’re not home. Make sure you leave a light on, or put them on timers when you are not in so that opportunist burglars think you are in.

On a positive note, I have been pleased with your work reporting crime in Worksop this year. We are starting to see the results, we are reducing overall crime and we are making sure that there are consequences for those who commit crime by increasing our detection rate for offences.

As a community we need to continue to work together to make 2014 an even more successful year for policing. Happy New Year to you all on behalf of Nottinghamshire Police.

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