Blitz on drink-drivers sees over 200 charged in West Midlands

More than 5,000 drivers were breathalysed in the West Midlands this Christmas – but fewer than seven per cent were over the legal limit.

The West Midlands force today said more people were tested during its 2013 festive drink driving campaign than in the previous three years. Officers carried out 5,256 breath tests, with 363 people testing positive or failing to provide a breath specimen, a total of 6.9 per cent, compared with eight per cent in 2012.

In 2009 the percentage of positive drivers was double that seen in 2013 with 13 per cent of drivers breathalysed failing the test.

The 2013 campaign saw West Midlands Police name every driver charged with drink driving, a step taken to make people think twice before getting behind the wheel when under the influence.

A total of 205 drivers were charged with drink or drug driving offences across the West Midlands in December. The campaign's page on the force's website was viewed more than 41,600 times.

Launched on December 1, the campaign saw police working with Crimestoppers to offer rewards to people who offered information leading to the arrest and prosecution of anyone who drives when having had a drink or taken illegal drugs.

Inspector Greg Jennings, who led the force campaign, said: "It is never acceptable to get behind the wheel when under the influence you pose a serious risk to others on the road, let alone yourself.

"This year we took the different step of naming everyone who had been arrested and charged with drink or drug driving offences, which was 205 people in total. It is a step taken by several forces in a bid to make others think twice before acting recklessly.

The force stressed its efforts to crackdown on drink and drug driving would not stop just because the festive period was over.

Officers added that just minutes into this year, they arrested a man from Staffordshire after S-type Jaguar was spotted at speeds of up to 100mph on the Aston Expressway in Birmingham.

The 32-year-old man was later charged with driving when above the legal alcohol limit and driving without due care and attention.

He appeared before Birmingham Magistrates Court on New Year's Day where he admitted both charges.