Christmas Drink And Drug Drive Arrests

Several drink and drug drive arrests have been made across the region over the Christmas weekend. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Between Friday 23rd and today, Wednesday, 28th December officers from the Roads Policing Unit have made a total of nine arrests. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

During the early hours of this morning (Wednesday, 28th) a man failed the roadside drugs swipe test after testing positive for cannabis. He was stopped in the Llanllyfni area near Caernarfon and was arrested on suspicion of drug driving. The 31-year-old local man has since been released on police bail pending the results of further tests. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A 20-year-old man from Llangefni was arrested on the A55 at Llanfairfechan shortly before 8pm last night (Tuesday, 27th December) after he was seen to be driving a vehicle with defects. He subsequently failed the roadside drugs swipe test after testing positive for cannabis and was arrested on suspicion of drug driving. He has since been released on police bail pending the results of further tests. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

During the early hours of yesterday morning (Tuesday 27th December) officers stopped a vehicle on Ffordd Derwen in Rhyl after the driver was seen to be driving at excess speed. He failed the roadside breath test and was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving. The 33-year-old, who is local to the Rhyl area has been charged to appear before Llandudno Magistrates on January 10th. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

On Boxing Day, December 26th, a driver was stopped on the A5 at Bangor for driving at excess speed. He failed the roadside drugs swipe test and was also found to be driving with no licence or valid insurance. The 23-year-old man, who is local to the Bangort area, was arrested and has since been released on police bail pending further enquiries. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

During the early hours of Christmas Day a vehicle was stopped on Hullah Lane in Wrexham and the driver tested positive on both the drink and drug drive test. The 29-year-old driver was arrested on suspicion of drink and drug driving. He has since been charged with drink driving and bailed to appear before Wrexham Magistrates on January 13th. He has been released on bail for the drug driving pending the results of further tests. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A man from Llandudno will also be appearing before the town’s Magistrates Court on January 9th after being arrested and charged for drink-driving. The 22-year-old was seen by officers driving in the locality and he was stopped and breathalysed. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

During the afternoon of Friday, December 23rd a man was arrested on suspicion of theft from a motor vehicle and drug driving after being stopped on Mold Road in Broughton. The 45-year-old man, who is from the Liverpool area has since been released on police bail pending further enquiries. His passenger, a 46-year-old woman who is local to the Broughton area, was also arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods. She has also been released on police bail pending further enquiries. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Later that day, a 33-year-old man from the Hawarden area failed the roadside drugs swipe test after testing positive for cocaine when stopped whilst travelling in the Buckley area. He has since been released on police bail pending the results of further tests. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

And a tip-off from a member of the public saw a man being stopped by police on the B5122 in Caerwys, Flintshire on Friday, December 23rd. The 57-year-old, who is from the Kidderminster area, was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and has since been bailed pending further enquiries. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sergeant Tony Gatley from the Roads Policing Unit of North Wales Police said: “It is unfortunate that we still find that some are willing to risk their lives and the lives of others by drink and or drug driving. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This is clearly unacceptable and officers will continue to target those who continue to endanger the lives of innocent road users. Anyone who is considering driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs should know that we will be out and about waiting. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He added: “We are experiencing a great response from the public. The response to our appeal for help in providing information about drink and drug drivers has been great. Our Safer Neighbourhood Teams and Special Constables are also getting a lot of support from drivers when they are seen out and about conducting operations. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Our campaign continues, please heed the warning.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Since the beginning of December, officers have made 69 arrests in relation to drink-driving and 42 in relation to drug-driving. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​