POLICE in Hampshire working on Christmas campaign Operation Holly were busy catching festive drinkers last month.

Figures from the first half of December show there had been 80 arrests for drink driving and 155 drug wipes carried out across Hampshire and the Thames Valley, of which 79 were positive.

The festive campaign was launched on December 1 and ran until January. It tackled people who drive under the influence of drink and drugs and has seen officers carrying out targeted patrols and roadside checks.

Any driver who was stopped due to concerns over their driving, a vehicle defect or was involved in a collision was breathalysed.

Drivers who are unfit to drive through drink, drugs or medication can find themselves facing a court appearance, a potential loss of their licence, and additional fines.

Sergeant Rob Heard said: “We continued to enforce and target drink and drug drivers throughout the month of December. Sadly, we have made more than 150 arrests for drink and drug driving.

“Our message is plain and simple, please don’t take the risk and drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It impairs your driving ability and reactions, the consequences are devastating, and your thoughtless actions ruin innocent lives.

“You can help tackle the issue by reporting to police anyone you know who is drink or drug driving by calling us on 101, texting 077814 80999, or calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. If the person is an immediate risk to another, we advise calling 999.”

Key results up to December 16:

* Hampshire breath tests 1,326, Thames Valley 1,413.

* Hampshire drink arrests 31, Thames Valley 49; 71 per cent of drink-drive offenders are male; most common days for breath test arrests are Saturdays and Sundays.

* Hampshire drug wipe tests 62, 26 positive (42 per cent) and Thames Valley Drug wipe tests 93 (57 per cent positive); most common days for drug wipe arrests are Friday and Saturday.

* Most positive breath arrests are in the 35 to 49 age group and most positive drug-wipe arrests are in the 17 to 34 age group.