THE number of drink or drug drivers arrested in December across mid and south Cheshire fell year-on-year last month.

Across the Northwich local policing unit – which covers Northwich, Winsford and Tarporley – arrests for drink driving dropped from 16 in December 2016 to 10 in December 2017.

Meanwhile, arrests for drug driving in the area also fell from 12 in December 2016 to just five last month.

Drink driving arrests also fell in the Crewe local policing unit – which covers Middlewich, Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach – from 31 in December 2016 to 25 in December 2017, although drug driving arrests rose from 18 to 19 year-on-year.

Supt Paul Beauchamp, taskforce lead at Cheshire Police, said: “Year after year we hear about people who think they are safe to drive because they don’t ‘feel’ affected by the alcohol or drugs they’ve consumed.

“Despite there being fewer arrests than last year it is still astonishing to see how many people continue to believe it is acceptable to drive under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs.

“Driving under the influence of either alcohol or drugs is extremely dangerous.”

In total, 148 people were arrested for drink driving across Cheshire last month, with a further 86 arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of illegal drugs.

“All of those arrested as part of this operation will now have to face the consequences of their actions, which will have a significant impact on both their personal and professional lives,” Supt Beauchamp added.

“If you drive whilst under the influence of drink or drugs in Cheshire, you will be caught.”