POLICE have put a £1,000 Christmas "bounty" on the heads of drink-drivers and those who take drugs before getting behind the wheel in Derbyshire.
Officers are asking people to report motorists they know have got behind the wheel after a festive tipple as part of their annual Christmas
drink-drive campaign.
Derbyshire Constabulary is again working with Crimestoppers for the campaign, which runs from tomorrow to January 1.
Crimestoppers has offered a reward of up to £1,000 for information leading to the arrest and charge of a drink-driver.
The size of the reward depends on the nature and seriousness of the offence.
Posters will be displayed in pubs and clubs across the county asking people to report anyone they see getting behind the wheel after drinking.
During last year's campaign, officers conducted 391 breath tests and, of those, 79 (almost 20%) gave a positive test, the driver refused to take the test or the driver failed to provide a sample.
Drink and drug-drive operations are in action all year round, including summer, but police put a particular focus on December because of the number of social events which go hand-in-hand with the season's festivities.
Chief Inspector Steve Wilson, head of roads policing in Derbyshire, said: "This time of year is one of celebration for many, including work parties and especially with family and friends. Our message is simple – if you are having a drink don't drive.
"Our campaign is very much intelligence-led and, by working with Crimestoppers, it will allow us to target those who persistently drink and drive rather than conducting mass-testing.
"I would urge anyone with information about a drink-driver to contact police or Crimestoppers and we will act on it wherever possible.
"If you drink alcohol or take drugs before driving, we'll catch up with you.
"We are determined to make our roads safer and this starts by removing those individuals who recklessly drink and drug-drive on our roads."
Police in England and Wales breathalysed almost 176,000 people on suspicion of drink or drug driving in December 2012.
In the UK, drink-and-drive-related deaths in 2012 accounted for 17% of all road fatalities.
To report a drink-driver, contact police on the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
For information about Crimestoppers, visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
