Police Officers believe a drink-drive campaign, which they carried out in East Cheshire during the World Cup, has made a major contribution to road safety.
During the two week that the England team were in the competition they arrested forty one people for drinking and driving.
Inspector Paul Broadhurst, in charge of the Cheshire Police Eastern Area Roads Policing Unit said, "That is fifty per cent more than the average figure for a fortnight.
"We were concerned before the competition that people who had watched matches at pubs or at the homes of friends might turn out on to the road when they had been drinking. That's exactly what seems to have happened.
"It is disappointing that people have behaved like this but at least a significant number of the drivers who could have caused a real hazard were taken off the roads. They now face court action which will stop them getting behind the wheel for a much longer period."
During the campaign, officers targeted key routes which have higher than average figures for collisions, as well as 'hot spots' where drinking and driving is known to be a problem.
Inspector Broadhurst said, "It's an issue we take seriously at all times. People who drink and drive are a real danger to themselves and to other road users. One in five of all fatal collisions on Cheshire roads involves drink in one way or another.
"We will continue to take action against drinking drivers and to work with partner agencies to educate people about the danger it presents"
The "World Cup" campaign was the first of its type for the Road Policing Unit, which was set up as part of recent changes made to the structure of Cheshire Police Eastern Area.
Inspector Broadhurst said, "In policing terms it was very successful. Denying criminals the use of the roads is a major part of our role and as well as the drink-drivers, we made arrests which led to charges of burglary, theft from vehicles, going equipped for crime and possession of drugs."
Picture: Inspector Paul Broadhurst.
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I was myself apparently followed home one late night even though I was making the short journey on foot. A funny little story but a serious reality: Unless it was simply coincidence the officers were keeping a watch on the neighbourhood, it surely makes it clear that anybody thinking to park away from their chosen watering hole and sneak round the backstreets is still not going to get away with it so don't even think about it.