ENSURING everyone gets home safely to enjoy Christmas with friends and family was the message being shared with drivers as North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Andy Dunbobbin joined officers from North Wales Police’s Roads Crime Unit (RCU) in Llandudno as part of their Christmas anti-drink and drug driving operation on the morning of 2 December.
The operation, named #OpLimit, launched at the start of December and Police Forces across the country will be using intelligence-led tactics and local knowledge of hotspots to detect people who are driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol over the festive period.
The team from the RCU in Llandudno included Superintendent Simon Barrasford, Inspector Leigh Evans, Sergeant Emma Birrell, as well as fellow officers from North Wales Police and a colleague from North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, who was there to support the safe driving message. The team were out stopping motorists at the Mostyn Broadway Coach Park to test via a breathalyser if any were flouting the law and endangering their fellow motorists and members of the public by driving while intoxicated. Drivers were also being tested for the quality of their eyesight and were asked to read a number plate from 20 metres away to ensure their vision was up to the required standard.
PCC Dunbobbin discussed the importance of the #OpLimit campaign with officers, their experiences during the operation so far, and he saw for himself their engagement with the public and the advice they were giving motorists on the importance of not drink or drug driving. He also heard from officers about the Law Enforcement Data Service or LEDS, which officers use to check that the cars passing through the Coach Park are abiding with regulations. PCC Dunbobbin was particularly interested in this as he is Lead at the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners on Digital, Data & Technology.
While the PCC was at the Coach Park, one driver was stopped by officers who discovered he was driving whilst disqualified. His vehicle was subsequently seized. So as well as combating drink and drug driving, and ensuring drivers are able to see properly, operations like this from North Wales Police can also help further by bringing to attention those not supposed to be driving in the first place.
Andy Dunbobbin, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, commented: “No one wants the Police knocking at their door this Christmas with the appalling news that a loved one has been involved in an accident caused by drink or drug driving.
“With this in mind, it was good to see the officers of the Roads Crime Unit engaging with the public and spreading the message that drink and drug driving can kill and that it won’t be tolerated in North Wales.
“Operations such as the one in Llandudno, and elsewhere across the region, help to reinforce that message.
“I was the first Police and Crime Commissioner of North Wales to have road safety as a standalone pledge in my Police and Crime Plan for the region and I am fully supportive of #OpLimit and this year’s anti-drink and drug driving campaign.”
Superintendent Simon Barrasford said: “Firstly I’d like to thank members of the public for their co-operation during the recent operation held in Llandudno.
“It has been proven that both drink and drugs can impair a person’s ability to drive, and we hope that the message of this campaign gets through – it is never acceptable to drink or drug drive.
“Driving whilst under the influence is a policing priority and collectively, with our partners, we are doing all we can to out a stop to this reckless and selfish behaviour.
“We have a zero-tolerance approach throughout the year – so far this year we’ve made over 2,000 drink and drug drive arrests.
“Getting behind the wheel whilst under the influence can have dire consequences.
“We’re not just talking about losing a licence, which often results in the loss of employment – driving under the influence leads to far too many serious and fatal collisions. This can result in prison and consequences for many families.
“We encourage the public to report anyone they know or suspect to be drink or drug driving. Information from the public is crucial – you will never know but you could be saving someone’s life.”
Sergeant Emma Birrell from the Roads Crime Unit said: “This weekend saw the start of many Christmas parties and gatherings, so we are pleading with anybody going out to plan on getting home safely.
“Arrange a lift or book a taxi in advance. We are also reminding everyone that you could still be over the alcohol limit the morning after a night of drinking.
“Our officers are on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week and anyone caught can expect to be arrested and put before the courts.
“We want everyone to enjoy a safe and happy festive season and so this is one of our most important annual campaigns.
“Despite our regular updates and constant warnings around the dangers and consequences of drink and drug-driving, too many people are still prepared to put their lives and those of other road users at risk.”
One local driver who was stopped and tested at the Coach Park, Linda from Llandudno, said: “I think activity like this is important, particularly at this time of year.
“People sometimes go to parties and then the morning after can fail their breathalyser tests, so it’s important to check people. This will hopefully help prevent accidents.”
There will be an intensified police presence over the course of #OpLimit, ensuring maximum coverage during peak periods, particularly during weekends and the morning after. North Wales Police will also be using social media as well as a digital advertising campaign to drive home the message of the consequences surrounding drink or drug driving. This will include a digital ad van which will travel across areas of North Wales with key messaging for the duration of the campaign.
If you have information relating to someone you think is driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs, information can be given to North Wales Police via the website Contact us | North Wales Police or by calling 101. In an emergency always dial 999.
Alternatively contact can be made via Crimestoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111.
