Essex Police have revealed the results of their Christmas campaign to clamp down on drink and drug driving over the festive period.

A total of 148 people were arrested between December 1 2017 and January 1 2018.

102 of these were drink-related offences, the other 46 were for drug-related offences.

Five of those arrested have already been to court and have been convicted.

Adam Pipe, casualty reduction manager, said: “This was a really good month of action with our officers working tirelessly to identify and arrest drink and drug drivers.

“Unfortunately though I think this figure is just the tip of the iceberg.

“There are still people around our county who are acting selfishly, thinking they can get away with putting their safety, and that of other people, at risk.

“One in 10 collisions in Essex in 2017 where we attended and carried out a roadside breath-test involved someone who was drink driving. Frankly that is unacceptable.”

Last year the number of people arrested in the county for drink-drive related offences grew from to 994 people in 2016 to 1,061 in 2017.

However, the number of drug-driving offences dropped from 705 to 629.

“It still baffles and infuriates me that anyone could be so arrogant as to think it is ok to get behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated.

“I believe communities around our county feel the same way we do and information from them has been crucial to helping us identify people breaking the law.

“It’s really important we continue to get that information and I would urge anyone who thinks someone’s drink or drug driving to contact us.

“I want to be clear though – our work to catch drink and drug drivers and take them off Essex’s roads doesn’t finish with the end of this campaign.”

As part of the campaign the full details of the sentences received by those who were convicted were revealed with driving disqualifications, fines and jail sentences amongst the punishments handed out.

Community orders and orders to do hours of unpaid work also featured in sentences.

190 people were arrested during the force’s same campaign last year.