A zero tolerance campaign to clamp down on drink driving in Gloucestershire has already seen 12 people arrested.
Of the 12 people arrested, all of which were men, the following seven have been charged:
- 43-year-old Paul Baker of Aston Cross in Tewkesbury was arrested in Tewkesbury on December 1. He will appear before magistrates on January 14 2013 charged with drink driving.
- 29-year-old Arthur Liman of India Road in Gloucester. He was arrested in a car park on the Bristol Road in Quedgeley on December 2. He appeared at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on December 3 where he was remanded in custody having been charged with driving whilst disqualified and being in charge of a vehicle whilst his alcohol level was above the limit.
- Matthew Edward Powell, 30, of Hollow Road in Stroud who was arrested in Stroud on December 2. He will appear before Stroud Magistrates on January 14 2013 charged with drink driving.
- 32-year-old Anthony Paul Jones of Chesterton Lane in Cirencester will appear at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on January 16 2013 charged with drink driving. He was arrested on December 2 in Cirencester.
- Edward James Smith, 27, of Bowly Road in Gloucester was arrested on December 2 in Gloucester and later charged with driving whilst unfit through drink, failing to stop after a road accident and possession of cannabis. He will appear at Stroud Magistrates Court on January 14.
- Laurence Francis, 43, of Mount Pleasant Lane in St Albans in Hertfordshire. He was arrested in Longford on December 3 and will appear at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on January 15 2013.
- 22-year-old Sean Walsh of Orchard Avenue in Cheltenham was arrested this morning, Friday December 7. He has been charged with drink driving and will appear at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on January 18, 2013.
Inspector Jason Keates, of the Constabulary's Road Policing Unit, said: "For the people we have arrested, Christmas is going to a less happy occasion this year.
"They risk losing their driving licences, and potentially facing job losses, relationship breakdowns and the humiliation of people knowing that they have committed a crime."
Road Safety Team Leader at the Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership, Garry Handley, said: "These 12 motorists may now have to face the New Year with a driving ban and all of the personal and social consequences that this brings, and this must surely act as a clear message to all other motorists that drinking and driving simply does not mix.
"It is impossible to calculate your alcohol limit – so don't try. Any amount of alcohol will affect your judgement, starting with your judgement about whether you should have another drink, so please take notice of the Road Safety Partnerships campaign that is visible right across the county - don't drink any alcohol if you are going to drive."
Nationally nearly one in six of all deaths on the road involve drivers who are over the legal alcohol limit and Gloucestershire Police are asking the public to help them tackle the crime by reporting suspected drink drivers to them.
"The vast majority of people in Gloucestershire regard this offence as socially and morally wrong and we're asking them to help support our zero tolerance approach to drink driving by using our new dedicated text number to let us know if they suspect someone has been drinking and getting behind the wheel."
If you suspect anyone of getting behind the wheel under the influence you can now report it to Gloucestershire Police by texting details to:
07860 0090 095
"All you need to do is tell us where the car is, its number plate and, if possible, it's direction of travel and we will do the rest," added Inspector Keates.
The drink drive arrests made between December 1 and December 7 have been made in Cheltenham, Cinderford, Cirencester, Drybrook, Gloucester, Stroud and Tewkesbury
