Four arrested on suspicion of drink driving in just six hours as festive campaign to tackle drink and drug driving is launched

Cleveland Police’s Matrix Team stopped four drivers suspected to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs in just six hours, as the latest operation to tackle drink and drug driving over the festive period got underway.

Shortly before 9:30pm on Friday 29th November, officers stopped a 28-year-old man on Bowesfield Lane in Eaglescliffe, followng reports received regarding the manner of his driving. After making off from police when the vehicle was stopped, he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and later released under investigation.

Then at twenty past midnight in the early hours of Saturday 1st December, a 38-year-old woman was pulled over by police on Marton Road in Middlesbrough. She was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and later charged with failing to provide a sample and driving without insurance.

At 2am, a third driver was stopped by police on Stockton Road in Hartlepool. Following a roadside test, a 61-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of drink driving. He was later charged with driving under the influence, driving without insurance and driving without a licence.

Shortly after, at 3am, a 46-year-old woman was arrested in Hartlepool following a collision on the sea front at Seaton Carew. She has since been charged with drink driving.

Inspector Scott Pearson, of the Matrix team said: “It’s concerning that people are taking to our roads whilst under the influence, which is why we run these operations.

“We were alerted to two of these arrests by members of the public who were concerned by erratic driving and I would like to thank the public for working with us to tackle this.

“If you get stopped by officers and are arrested and charged with drink driving, you risk losing your licence, possibly your job, or even worse losing your life or taking someone else’s. Don’t take the risk. “