Police ‘disappointed’ with high number of drink-drive arrests in Harrogate

The arrests were part of North Yorkshire Police’s month long summer drink and drive campaign which saw 111 people arrested in 30 days.

Only York with 27 had more arrests than Harrogate and Sgt Andy Morton of NYP Roads Policing Group said he was ‘disappointed’ by the high numbers.

He said: “Whilst we are pleased we have taken these dangerous drink and drug drivers off the road, it’s very disappointing that people still continue to ignore the warnings and drink or take drugs and get behind the wheel.

“Not only are they a danger to themselves, they put everyone else on the road at risk.”

Of the 111 people arrested in June, 70 people have already been charged to appear in court with many receiving hefty fines and lengthy bans.

The highest reading in the Harrogate district was a 56-year-old from Borough-bridge who blew at three-and-a-half times the legal limits.

Sgt Morton revealed that 40 per cent of people arrested had been at least twice the legal drink drive limit and 12 per cent had been three times the legal limit.

In the same campaign last year only 6% were found to be over 3 times the limit, which Sgt Morton described as ‘an alarming increase’.

He said: “Drivers should be assured that drink and drug driving will continue to be a priority for us for the rest of the year. Whilst the national summer campaign may be over, the fight against drink and drug driving in North Yorkshire is not.”

“We are out on the roads looking for people breaking the law. No matter what time of year it is, if you choose to drive under the influence of drink or drugs, we are out there and we will catch you. You will face a court appearance, a hefty fine, a driving ban and the possibility of a prison sentence.”

“I’d like to thank the members of the public who contacted us about suspected drink and drug drivers. This has assisted us throughout this campaign, enabling us to take these people off the roads.

“Two drivers of heavy goods vehicles, one a tanker and one carrying steel, were amongst those stopped as a direct result of information from the public.”