The number of people arrested for drink-driving in Northamptonshire over Christmas and New Year, or for failing to provide a sample of breath, went up by 51 compared to the same period last year.

A total of 127 people were arrested on suspicion of drink-driving on the county’s roads between 1 December 2006 and 2 January 2007, compared to 76 last year – an increase of 67 per cent.

And this in spite of the fact that 50 fewer breath -*test*-('")s were carried out during the festive period – a total of 894 breath -*test*-('")s were carried out this Christmas, compared to 944 last year (a five per cent decrease).

The outcome is hugely disappointing and of extreme concern to officers working on Operation Roadsafe, the year-round campaign to reduce casualties on Northamptonshire’s roads.

Equally disappointing was the fact that 41 of the 127 arrests were of drivers aged 17 to 24 years – this means one in three of those -*test*-('")ing positive for drink-driving are from this age group, a disproportionate ratio which has shown no sign of improvement.

And of those 127 arrests, 39 were detained following road traffic collisions – 137 personal injury road traffic collisions were reported during the recording period.

Senior casualty reduction officer for Northamptonshire Police, PC John Spencer, admitted the results were a huge disappointment but did stress that there were a couple of mitigating factors for the large increase.

He said: “This year’s campaign was as intensive as last year’s but it was a more targeted campaign with greater emphasis on young drivers and high risk routes. With huge support from the local media we even publicised the fact that this would be an intelligence-led operation.

“In one sense, at least we have taken 127 drink drivers off the roads but, having said that, the level of the increase remains of huge concern.

“The high ratio of young drivers arrested has not altered from last year which we suspect reflects the fact that the culture has changed in recent years resulting in young people drinking more and drinking more often.

“Our drink/drive and young driver initiatives are only part of the answer to this anti-social problem and motorists need to face up to their responsibilities when using a vehicle on our road system.

“The message has not been getting through – too many drivers of all ages are taking a risk with drink driving and risking their safety and that of other road users. But for 127 people this Christmas time, the message will have had an extremely sobering effect.

“Most of those arrested have already appeared in court and are now facing up to the reality of automatic disqualification and the stigma of having a criminal record.

“Operation RoadSafe will continue with equal intensity throughout 2007 as drink driving is a year-round problem, not just one that surfaces during December and the New Year.

“There is absolutely no excuse for drinking and driving and motorists in Northamptonshire should be under no illusion that there is a very good chance of being caught.”

Northamptonshire Police joined forces with Road Safety officers from Northamptonshire County Council, magistrates, and the Council on Addiction for the intensive Christmas drink-drive education and enforcement campaign that formed part of Operation Roadsafe.