19 motorists arrested in Newark and Sherwood during Nottinghamshire Police’s annual drink and drug driving campaign

Police have vowed that drink and drug driving “will never be tolerated” — as the force’s annual campaign saw 19 arrests in the district.

Nottinghamshire Police again ran it’s annual A Deadly Mix campaign over the festive period, which aims to crack down on those driving over the legal limit and simultaneously educate motorists on the dangers of doing so.

In Newark and Sherwood the campaign period, between December 1, 2024, and January 1, 2025, resulted in 19 arrests — with more than half, 11, of those charged or reported for summons.

A further five were bailed or released under investigation, while no further action was taken in just two cases.

It was also the first time the force’s drink driving roadshows had visited the town, with the expansion of the service based on data of hotspot locations of fatal and serious injury collisions involving drink or drugs.

The roadshow, held in the market place in the evening of Saturday, December 21, offered the public a chance to have a go at walking with beer goggles, hear facts about the risks of drink driving, and take home educational packs to share with family and friends.

It was delivered by PCSO Solomon Clark, one of the driving forces behind Nottinghamshire Police’s ‘A Deadly Mix’ campaign, as well as Newark neighbourhood PCSOs Andrew Mighall and Stuart Hicks, and officers from the Roads Policing Unit.

Inspector Charlotte Ellam, District Commander for Newark and Sherwood, said: “We were pleased to be able to support this vital campaign across the Newark and Sherwood district to help raise awareness about the risks posed by drink and drug-driving.

“Road safety is consistently raised as a public concern, and it is inescapable that where drugs and alcohol are involved the risk of serious injury or fatalities is much higher.

“That’s why we work so hard throughout the year to educate drivers about the dangers of getting behind the wheel while over the limit, and why we put so much energy into this kind of proactive policing.

“While it is disappointing that some motorists are willing to ignore decades worth of very clear public messaging around this issue — it is reassuring to know that the vast majority of drivers do behave in a responsible way.

“Our hope is that the educational roadshows provided during this campaign and the number of suspects arrested or charged as part of this enforcement will reinforce the message that this behaviour will never be tolerated.”

Across the county at total of 84 drivers were charged with drink or drug driving offences during the operation, with the highest alcohol reading recorded as more than four times over the legal limit.