Almost 200 drink and drug driving related arrests in December
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A man who led police on a high-speed chase whilst twice over the legal drink drive limit last month has been jailed.
29-year-old Dale Broome of Uplands Avenue, Portobello, Wolverhampton was arrested during the early hours of December 10th following a report of dangerous driving on the A55 near Abergele.
Officers from the Roads Crime Unit caught up with the car and a pursuit began which involved Broome driving well in excess of the speed limit, including a 100mph on a 20mph road.
He drove down a country lane and came face to face with officers, he then reversed at speed before becoming stuck in mud on an embankment.
Broome was arrested and later charged with drink driving and other driving offences including driving whilst disqualified, failing to stop, dangerous driving and driving without insurance. He was remanded to appear before court the following day where he was further remanded to be sentenced.
Broome appeared before Caernarfon Crown Court yesterday (Thursday, 9th January) where he was sentenced to 16 months in prison. He was also disqualified from driving for four years and eight months.
Throughout December North Wales Police supported Op Limit, a national policing operation aimed at reducing fatal and serious road traffic collisions and protecting road users.
During the month-long campaign period, almost 200 people were caught at the wheel whilst under the influence of drink or drugs.
The annual campaign, which ran from 1 December 2024 to 1 January 2025, saw 66 arrests across the region for drink-driving, with another 108 for drug-driving.
Ages of those arrested on suspicion of drug driving range between 17 and 71-years-old and those arrested on suspicion of drink driving range between 20-years-old and 78-years-old.
Sergeant Emma Birrell, who led on the campaign on behalf of the Roads Crime Unit at North Wales Police said: “We have a zero-tolerance approach to drink and drug driving all year round, but our December campaign saw us conducting extensive patrols across the region. This included targeting hot spot areas and conducting intelligence-led stops. Officers were also out across the region carrying out proactive stops where they were met with thanks from the majority of those who had been stopped.
“Our work doesn’t stop just because Christmas is over. Our efforts to make sure people are safe behind the wheel in north Wales continues 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. There really is no hiding place.
“Driving under the influence means motorists take risks every time they get behind the wheel of a car. They put themselves and others at risk. Drink and drug driving ruins the lives of individuals and communities and it is completely avoidable.
“We will continue to do all that we can to tackle drink driving but we’d ask the public to support us. If you know of, or suspect someone of drink or drug driving, let us know. We’ll use that information to direct our patrols to identified “hotspots”, to catch offenders and take them off our roads.
“This was certainly the case with many of the arrests we made during the campaign period – including a 36-year-old HGV driver from Anglesey who was arrested after testing positive for drugs at the roadside. The reason he was stopped was thanks to members of the public who had dialled 999 with concerns regarding the manner of driving. Officers caught up with the HGV which was stopped on the A55 at Tal-y-Bont near Bangor and the driver was arrested after testing positive for cocaine. He remains under investigation as we await the results of further tests.
“Despite our regular updates and constant warnings around the dangers and consequences of drink and drug-driving, it is extremely disappointing that too many people are still prepared to put their lives and those of other road users at risk, therefore we’ll continue to work to take people who think it’s acceptable to drive while under the influence off the roads.”
If you suspect someone is driving while unfit to do so, please report it immediately to police on 101 (or 999 if they are posing imminent danger) or phone it through anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Your calls really do make a difference.