News

5 January 2010
VEHICLE FORFEITURE TO CONTINUE BEYOND FESTIVE DRINK DRIVE CAMPAIGN

REPEAT drink drivers will continue to face losing their vehicles following the success of a four-week campaign.

During the ACPOS campaign Scottish police forces, Crown Office and the Scottish Government warned that tougher action would be taken on repeat drink drivers and they would face the prospect of having their vehicles taken away.

A further 137 drivers were arrested for being over the legal limit during the fourth and final week of the ACPOS festive drink drug driving campaign. This brings the total number of arrests to 490, of which 47 were found to be repeat drink drivers, four of whom have had their cars forfeited and a further 24 seized pending consideration by the Court.

The incidents include a 56 year old man who was arrested for drink driving on New Year’s Day night after police stopped him in Lochgilphead whilst driving a gritting truck.

The number of drivers caught during this year’s campaign is down significantly on last year’s figure of 654 and down even more on the 2007 figure of 839.

The initiative against repeat offenders is now being continued beyond the four week campaign in an effort to reduce road casualties further.

Kevin Smith, Chief Constable of Central Scotland Police and Chair of the ACPOS Road Policing Business Area, said “Throughout this campaign police officers have been patrolling roads in towns, villages and cities across Scotland to catch those drivers who were prepared to take the risk and drive whilst over the limit. Often they acted on information received from the public”

He added “Although the number of arrests is down significantly we will continue to target those drivers who seek to risk the lives of themselves and others and I am pleased to confirm that we will also be continuing to identify repeat drink drivers to Crown Office in order for their vehicles to be forfeited”  

The Lord Advocate, the Right Honourable Elish Angiolini QC said: “The reduction in the numbers caught drink driving throughout the festive period is excellent news. With around a quarter less than last year, it would appear attitudes amongst the minority who persist in drink driving are changing.  I am pleased that the added deterrent of persistent offenders losing their cars has helped get the message across and to help strengthen that message I have decided that prosecutors will continue to seek forfeiture for persistent offenders throughout the year.

"While the reduction in numbers caught is welcome, we can never be complacent and prosecutors will continue working with the police to ensure these offences are investigated thoroughly and offenders are prosecuted and brought to justice swiftly.”

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: “This has been a successful campaign.   The seizures are working and it is encouraging to see that this no-nonsense approach has resulted in a decrease in drink driving this festive season.

“However, that said we’ve still seen hundreds of drink drivers caught putting lives at risk. Drink driving is totally unacceptable and it is clear that we need to step up our actions and extend the use of these car seizure powers - and use them 365 days a year.

“These people will find out the hard way that their actions will be met with by the full force of the law. Our law officers have my full backing as it seems that the only way to get through to drink drivers is through tough action.”

Drivers caught across Scotland during the final week include:

Strathclyde
Late on New Years day a 56 year old man in Lochgilphead who was driving a gritter truck was stopped by police. He failed a road side breath test, was arrested and found to be over the legal limit. He will appear later at Dunoon Sheriff Court.

On Tuesday 29 December a 48 year old man driving a Skoda Octavia in Bellrock View, Glasgow, was arrested for drink driving. Due to a previous drink drive conviction he was kept in custody until his appearance at court when his vehicle was seized pending forfeiture.

A 22 Year old male, driving a Renault Clio in Lawrie Street Larkhall during the early hours of Wednesday 30 December was arrested for drink driving and due to a previous drink drive conviction was detained in custody for court. He pled guilty at court and the vehicle is now subject of forfeiture.

On Hogmanay a 34 Year old man driving a Vauxhall Vectra in Springburn Road Glasgow was found to be over the limit. He was arrested and kept in custody due to a previous drink drive conviction.

In Airdrie a 46 Year old man driving a Ford Transit was arrested on New Years day. He had previous convictions and a pending case for a similar offence. He was detained in custody for court.
            
In Maryhill Road Glasgow a 47 year old man driving a Toyota Auris was arrested for drink driving on January 2. He had a previous drink drive conviction for and will appear from custody on 5 January.

Fife
About 2030 hours on Monday 28 December a 19 year old man was arrested after stealing his grandmother’s car and colliding with wheelie bins near Kelty. He failed to provide a roadside breath test and was also reported for taking and driving away the car, disqualified driving, drink driving and careless driving all of which were committed whilst on bail.
 
About 2350 hours on Tuesday 30 December a 24 year old man was arrested after stealing a car in Glenrothes. He was reported for taking and driving away the car, drink driving, and provisional driving licence offences.

Grampian
The following three incidents took place on Friday 1 January 2010.

A 17 year old male driver caught in Aberdeen had only passed his driving test one month ago.

A 24 year old male driver caught in Fraserburgh was caught after colliding with a parked car.

A 23 year old male driver caught on the A90 between Peterhead and Aberdeen, was driving a stolen car.

All the drivers caught this week were male and 69% of them were Young Drivers aged 17 – 25.

Lothian & Borders
About 0230 hours on Saturday 3 January, following an unrelated incident in the Hawick area, police officers came across a single vehicle collision where the vehicle was being recovered from a ditch.  The driver of the vehicle, a 27 year old male, at this time provided a positive breath test and the driver responsible for the original collision, again a 27 year old male, was subsequently traced and he refused to provide a breath test.  Both were released on undertakings

Tayside
On Wednesday 30 December a 49 year old man was arrested for drink driving in the Strathmartine area of Dundee. He was also found to be a repeat offender and the issue of vehicle forfeiture is currently being considered

On Friday 1 January 2010 a 23 year old woman was fatally injured in Dundee after being struck by a car. The 17 year old male driver was arrested and reported for drink driving and a number of other road traffic offences.

Figures for Scottish forces (figures in brackets show repeat offenders)

Central 5 (0)
Dumfries 2 (0)
Fife 6 (0)
Grampian 13 (0)
Lothian & Borders 12 (0)
Northern 11 (0)
Strathclyde 77 (5)
Tayside 11 (1)

For further information, contact:
David Steele, Communications Manager, ACPOS
0141 435 1241 (office) or 07771 842 881 (out of hours)