Christmas clamp down: Police increase patrols to catch drink and drug drivers over festive period
Police forces across the country have launched their annual Christmas drug and drive campaign – named ‘Operation Limit’.
Using marked and unmarked vehicles and a range of specialist tactics, officers will be increasing the number of drink and drug driving patrols to catch drivers who are over the limit during the festive season.
In North Yorkshire, the force have shared the harrowing story of a police employee killed on her way to work by a driver under the influence of alcohol and cannabis.
Carol Jones, who was 50, was driving to work as a civilian member of staff at Harrogate Police Station when her car was hit by another vehicle travelling at 60mph in August 2016.
The driver, Simeon Denny, 29, was high on drink and drugs ignored a red light. He was sentenced to five years and nine months and banned from driving for six and a half years.
Angie Neal, Carol’s sister, has urged others not to get behind the wheel while under influence, as part of North Yorkshire Police’s Christmas drink and drug driving campaign.
She said: “Carol won’t be with us this Christmas. Eight years ago, Carol was killed travelling on her way to work at 7 in the morning.
“The driver was under the influence of drink and drugs. It doesn’t get any easier, and every year now, there’s an empty chair at my Christmas table.”
Tribute is paid to Carol by Angie in the North Yorkshire Police campaign video, called ‘Christmas for me is about’.
It aims to raise awareness of the dangers of driving under the influence of drink or drugs and shows how one person’s actions can shatter many people’s lives for years after.
The force say that although those who have lost a loved one feel their loss all year round, Christmas can heighten these feelings and the mindless actions of a drink or drug driver can leave an empty chair at the Christmas table.
Carol Jones was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision and colleagues from North Yorkshire Police had to attend.
Superintendent Andrew Berriman is the Head of Specialist Operations at North Yorkshire Police.
He told GB News: “Officers had to turn out and deal with that situation, where she’s [Carol Jones] been travelling in her car and being struck at 60 miles an hour and she’s dead at the scene.
“What we’re trying to say to people is, these are the consequences of drunk driving or driving whilst under the influence of drugs. People might think ‘you won’t catch me, I’m a good driver. I’ve never had a crash’, but it can affect anyone.
“We’ve got a large area to cover in North Yorkshire. We’ve got 6000 square miles. My message to people is, we can’t be everywhere, but we could be anywhere.”
As part of Operation Limit, police are increasing the number of proactive drink and drug driving patrols.
Throughout December, officers will be conducting 24/7 roadside checks including breathalysing and drug testing drivers.
GB News joined Traffic Constable Mark Hutchings, Road Safety Officer North Yorkshire Police on patrol in Harrogate.
He said: “We’ve just pulled up here totally unannounced. I can go anywhere within North Yorkshire, really, so can my colleagues.
“We know where the busier places are. We know where the higher risk areas are.
“We also know through intelligence led policing, of some drivers who will be out there and doing it with total disregard.
“If you know that you’re going out, if you know you’ve got a Christmas celebration going to happen, plan for how you’re going to get there, and how are you going to get back safely. Don’t put lives at risk.”
During last year’s month-long operation, North Yorkshire police officers conducted 731 roadside tests.18.6 per cent of motorists, which is 136, tested were over the drink or drug limit. This was a 6.9 per cent increase from the same period in 2022.
The drivers who were stopped on the patrol GB News attended had no alcohol in their system.
Billy, a truck driver who was stopped, said: “I was going slightly over the speed limit, so he’s [the police officer] just breathalysed me and give me a few words of advice. It’s a vital thing they [the police] do.
Another driver, Martin, who was stopped said: “I’m of that age group, which is probably guilty more so than others [of drink driving].
“I’m fully aware and I don’t drink and drive.”
‘We don’t want another empty seat this Christmas’ is the message of this festive campaign, which ends on New Year’s Day.
North Yorkshire Police encourage members of the public to report drink and drug drivers by dialling 999 with information including their vehicle, registration number and current location.
The force will publish updates on the number of arrests made and any prosecutions on its social media channels and website.