Christmas anti-drink drive campaign

Report: 11
Date: 21 March 2002
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report details the outcome of the Metropolitan Police Service's Christmas 2001 anti-drink drive campaign and compares performance against the 2000 Christmas campaign. The MPS was significantly more effective in the latest campaign, in part because of an intelligence led approach.

A. Recommendations

Members are asked to note the contents of this report.

B. Supporting information

1. Each year there are two anti-drink drive campaigns. The purpose is to reduce road deaths and collisions that are attributed to drinking and driving. The campaigns generally extend for periods of two weeks and utilise all operational uniformed officers.

2. The approach of the MPS and Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR) was to run the campaign from 10tDecember 2001 until 5 January 2002.

3. The Association of Chief Police Officers' approach was to run its campaign from 18 December 2001 until 2 January, 2002. The MPS has written to ACPO and is seeking to influence the duration of all such operations, i.e. so that they are all the same length as the DTLR media campaign, to maximise the benefits of joint working.

4. The MPS Traffic OCU was formed on 4 September 2000 and has fully adopted intelligence led policing. It has used this approach for these campaigns.

5. In conducting the Christmas 2001 campaign the results are as follows :-

• 1247 personal injury collisions reported by police. (Increase of 1.2% from 2000)
• 1761 breath tests were conducted at all accidents attended by police. (Decrease of 17% from 2000)
• 276 drivers arrested who either tested positive or refused to take a test. (Increase of 48% from 2000)

6. Maximum publicity for this campaign was achieved by working with DTLR who provided the literature to the MPS and other agencies. Their campaign started a week earlier than the ACPO dates. These dates were supported by the Traffic OCU as they are one of our partners.

7. The Traffic OCU approach supported operational deployment through intelligence led activity supplying officers to identified problem areas at the right times.

8. Borough OCUs simultaneously followed this approach.

9. The MPS positive tests as a proportion of tests administered was 276 against 1761, a hit rate of 15.7%.

10. When comparing the total number of tests following collisions with the total number of those that were positive the MPS results are not exceptional. The majority of Forces achieved around 5% with five Forces averaging around 11%. Hertfordshire and South Yorkshire Police had 25% positive tests, the MPS was next followed by Thames Valley Police at 14.5%.

11. The increase in positive results, however, does stand out as it is 48% larger than the Christmas Campaign in December 2000.

12. There is insufficient data to show whether this increase has been achieved in other Forces.

13. The MPS approach to Drink/Drive had three strands:-

14. Strand 1

To target specific tube stations and railway stations with traffic wardens and police officers furnishing members of the public with literature produced by DTLR.

15. Strand 2

This strand dealt with specific enforcement activity. It concentrated on specific areas during peak demand times and in areas where there was an increased likelihood of Christmas parties taking place. These areas also included casualty hotspots.

16. Strand 3

This targeted local popular public houses, especially in the late evening after closing. These locations were also identified locally as being premises that were well attended by the public.

C. Financial implications

None.

D. Background papers

None.

E. Contact details

Report author: DCI Stephen Clarke, MPS.

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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