100 arrested during drink and drug-drive campaign

Gwent Police arrested 100 people on suspicion of driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs as part of the force’s Christmas road safety campaign.

Officers from Gwent Police joined forces across Wales and the wider UK, in conducting intelligence-led vehicle checks on roads within the force area between 1 December 2021 and 1 January 2022.

In Gwent, 51 people were arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and 49 people were arrested on suspicion of drug-driving.

Across Wales saw 299 arrests for drink-driving, with another 202 for drug-driving. Almost 100 of those arrests - 85 drink-drive and 14 drug-drive - came following road traffic collisions.

Chief Inspector Martyn Smith of Gwent Police’s road policing and specialist operations unit, said: “Driving under the influence is one of the biggest causes of death on our roads and these figures illustrate that too many people are willing to risk their lives and other road users by getting behind the wheel after drinking alcohol or taking drugs. We run these campaigns to make our roads safer and to raise awareness of the consequences of driving under the influence.

“Our message is clear; please don’t risk your life and the lives of other road users by driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It is never acceptable.

“We want to remind motorists that our drink and drug-drive enforcement takes place all year around, not just at Christmas. Any motorist caught driving under the influence or driving dangerously will be prosecuted.

“We all have a role to play in ensuring the safety of other road users. I would urge all motorists to drive carefully, responsibly and within the limits of the law and to ensure their vehicles are well-maintained at all times.”