Drink drivers shamed online

Every motorist caught drink-driving in West Yorkshire in the run-up to Christmas will have their details published online as part of a new bid to tackle the problem.

West Yorkshire Police’s festive campaign against drink and drug-driving, which began on Monday, will see all suspects’ age, gender and home town or city revealed on its website the next day along with details of the offence.

Last December, 70 people were arrested in the Leeds area and 30 in Kirklees.

There were 157 men and 32 women arrested across West Yorkshire.

Most people were arrested between the hours of midnight and 1am on a Sunday and the most common age range for those arrested was 25-34 years.

Insp Joanne Field, who leads West Yorkshire Police’s Roads Policing Unit, said: “Driving while under the influence of drink or drugs is always a significant danger.

“But at Christmas the risks are even more prevalent with darker nights, bad weather and sadly, more people taking the risk by drinking and then getting behind the wheel.

“The 2014 campaign is about hammering home the message that on a daily basis people across West Yorkshire are risking theirs and other people’s lives and that drink driving has extremely serious consequences.”

Drink and drug-driving can lead to a driving ban of at least a year and a fine up to £5,000.