2019 drug drive arrests near 1,000 mark

More than 150 people were arrested on suspicion of drug driving in Essex in June – taking the total for the first half of the year to nearly 1,000.

On 4 June, Essex Police launched its summer drink and drug drive campaign – with a clear focus on drug driving.

In total, 153 people were arrested on suspicion of drug driving during June – bringing the yearly total to 955.

By way of comparison, there were 1,039 arrests for the offence during the whole of 2018.

Temporary chief inspector Sharn Taylor, head of road policing, said: “We continue to see large numbers of people not only taking drugs which are illegal anyway, but then get into a car and risk their lives and those of others on our road.

“What these figures also show is that the public we serve can be confident that we will detect and arrest those flouting the law.

“We have more officers trained to use drug wipes and we regularly test drivers we stop on the side of the road when we’ve stopped them on suspicion of routine traffic offences or erratic driving.

“My officers will continue to carry out targeted and proactive work to take those who get behind the wheel after using drugs off our roads.

“I know our communities feel as strongly about this issue as we do and intelligence from the public can be crucial.”

During June, 119 people were also arrested on suspicion of drink driving and 36 for failing to provide a specimen – meaning the total number of arrests for drink and drug driving stood at 308.

Anyone with information about a drink or drug driver is being encouraged to call Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

02 July 2019