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01
Dec 2022
Police plea to call out drink drivers amid increasing Harrogate district incidents
North Yorkshire Police is urging people to alert the force to suspected drink drivers amid concern over increasing cases.
The force, along with North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, today launched its Christmas drink and drug drive campaign.
Called 'Save a life and call It In', it encourages people to ring 999 if they suspect someone is behind the wheel under the influence of drink or drugs.
The campaign, which runs until January 1, will also see officers patrolling the county in marked and unmarked police vehicles and carrying out roadside checks.
Superintendent Emma Aldred, head of specialist operations for the force, told the Stray Ferret:
She said:
'We are seeing an increase'
During last year’s campaign – which ran from December 1 to January 1 - there were 137 people arrested for drink or drug driving in the county.
From the 137 arrests, 120 were men and 17 were women. 72 people of the 137 were charged with an offence. A total of 25 of the arrests were made following a crash.
Tony Peel, group manager at North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Tony Peel, group manager for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, also said that the service was now seeing an increase in drink driving incidents across Harrogate and North Yorkshire.
He said:
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The plea to call out drink and drug drivers has been endorsed by actor Mark Charnock, who plays Marlon Dingle in television soap Emmerdale.
Mr Charnock took part in a mock car crash at Harrogate Fire Station this week to demonstrate the impact that drink driving can have on someone.
Mark Charnock was cut from a car as part of a demonstration at Harrogate Fire Station.
The demonstration saw him cut out of a car by fire crews and put onto a stretcher before being lifted to safety.
Mr Charnock said:
The campaign against drink and drug driving will run from December 1, 2022, until January 1, 2023.
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