29
Nov
Police hope death of Harrogate colleague stops Christmas drink and drug drivers
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North Yorkshire Police has used the harrowing story of one of its own members of staff in Harrogate as the focus of its annual Christmas drink and drug drive campaign.
The campaign, which begins today and lasts until January 1, will see extra police patrols across the county in marked and unmarked vehicles.
Last year’s campaign saw officers conduct 731 roadside tests, with 18.6% of those testing positive to being over the limit for drink or drug driving. This was a 6.9% increase from the same period in 2022.
Carol Jones died when Simeon Denny drove through a red light at 60 miles per hour and crashed into her vehicle at the junction of Cold Bath Road and Otley Road in 2016.
Carol, a civilian member of police staff, was travelling to work at Harrogate Police Station on Beckwith Head Road at the time.
Carol Jones. who died in 2016.
Denny, 29, who was found to be over the drink-drive limit, was jailed for five years and nine months and banned from driving for six-and-a-half years.
A two-minute video, called ‘Christmas for me is about’, features Carol’s sister.
It aims to raise awareness of the dangers of driving under the influence of drink or drugs and show how one person’s inconsiderate actions can shatter many people’s lives for years after.
Superintendent Andrew Berriman, from North Yorkshire Police’s specialist operations unit, said:
Every year, police officers have to deliver the devastating news to people that their loved one has been killed in a collision relating to drink or drugs.
The video which we have released today shows how the loss of one person can cause a lifetime of devastation. If you drink or drug drive, you are putting your own life and those of others in danger.
We will be out in force through December and make no apology for doing all that we can to take offenders who are over the drink drive limit or under the influence of drugs off North Yorkshire’s roads. The overwhelming majority of law-abiding motorists are appalled at drink and drug driving and will back the action taken against a small minority to make our roads safer.
A breathalyser to test for alcohol at the roadside.
The campaign is a joint project between us at North Yorkshire Police and York and North Yorkshire Road Safety Partnership, which is a group of local authorities, emergency services and other agencies which work together to reduce the number of people killed and injured on roads.
Police encourage members of the public to report drink and drug drivers by dialling 999 with information including their vehicle, registration number and current location.
The force will publish updates on the number of arrests made and any prosecutions on its social media channels and website.
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