Between 1 December 2023 and 1 January 2024, officers from the Roads Policing Unit took a proactive approach to identify offending as part of the national initiative aimed at reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on the country’s roads.

Officers requested roadside breath tests from all drivers who committed a road traffic offence, irrespective of whether or not they suspected a drink or drug driving offence.

In total 392 people were arrested. This included a man who was stopped in Gillingham after the vehicle was suspected of having several defects. The driver failed a drugs-wipe and following a search a knuckle duster was also found. He was arrested for several driving offences and has since been bailed.

Officers also saw a man driving a van without a seatbelt on in Gillingham. He was stopped and also failed a roadside drugs-wipe. He was arrested for drug-driving and has been bailed.

Officers were patrolling Folkestone when they saw a suspicious looking vehicle, but when they requested the driver to stop, she made off from patrols and after a short pursuit was brought to a stop. The driver failed a road-side drugs-wipe which came back positive for cocaine and following a search of the vehicle a large quantity of cocaine, cannabis and heroin was located. The woman has since been bailed.

Inspector Dave Crompton from Kent Police’s Roads Policing Unit said: ‘Officers stopped more than 1,000 vehicles throughout the course of the campaign, and it is concerning that people are still driving when they are in no fit condition to get behind the wheel.

‘We take a zero-tolerance approach to drink and drug driving at all times of the year, and this campaign helps to put the focus onto tackling this type of offending.

‘Driving under the influence of drink or drugs is a completely avoidable offence that places innocent members of the public in unnecessary danger.

‘It is known to be one of the four most common causes of a serious collision, alongside not wearing a seatbelt, using a mobile phone at the wheel and speeding. While only a very small minority of motorists commit offences of this nature, the consequences can be life changing for all involved.’