Almost 200 people arrested by Notts police during month long drink and drug-driving campaign

The incident was one of 193 arrests made during Nottinghamshire Police's month-long Christmas drink and drug-driving campaign.

The 44-year-old who was five times over the limit was detained by police in the Kirklington Road area of Bilsthorpe following a report a van had collided with a vehicle in the Chappell Gardens at around 2.30pm on 9 December 2019 and a witness suspected the driver had been drinking.

The man, who works as a delivery driver, was stopped and arrested moments later and bottles of alcohol were also seized from the foot well of the vehicle.

The major enforcement event featured planned activity and patrols at key times and locations with the force pledging to 'actively hunt' drink and drug-drivers.

It led to 105 people being arrested in connection to alcohol and 82 arrested in connection to drugs. A further six people were arrested for both drink and drugs.

This compares to 179 arrests in 2019 with 147 of those relating to alcohol, 30 relating to drugs and two in relation to both drink and drugs.

Roads policing Sergeant Craig Luckett said: "I'm really pleased with these results which show we've kept the pressure on in order to catch drink and drug-drivers throughout Nottinghamshire despite people being unable to travel and visit licensed premises during this period.

"The pandemic restrictions will undoubtedly have had an impact on the results but the fact we've still managed to make gains on last year’s activity shows just how hard we've worked."

With a key focus on those who get behind the wheel 'the morning after the night before,' the force utilised all proactive and reactive teams in order to conduct the activity which included random stop tests.

Operations were also staged in rural areas as opposed to the usual focus on towns and the city centres.

Sergeant Luckett said: "We wanted to send a clear message out if people were intent on drink or drug-driving then there's a high possibility we will catch them.

"As well as our own department, we had the entire force involved in the campaign, armed with the knowledge and resources to operate enforcement activity on any road throughout Nottinghamshire at any one time. It's been a real collaborative effort.

"This year, we have seen a big increase in drug-driving offences. Throughout the force we have been working on a big drug-wipe education program having gained an increase in funding which has in turn increased awareness of the issue and has equipped our officers with the means to test at the roadside wherever possible."

During the campaign, 44 people arrested for drink or drug-driving following a collision.

Sergeant Luckett, said: "We wanted to stop drink and drug-drivers before they had the opportunity to cause serious harm to someone.

"This offence is seen as a completely selfish and avoidable act and puts the lives of others at serious risk. We know how it can cause such tragedy to innocent victims and their families and change the course of their lives forever so it's sad to see that people are still willing to take that risk.”