JUST five people were arrested for drink-driving out of 32,101 stopped by police spot checks during the Christmas clampdown.

Police revealed the figure today, days after being criticised for not revealing the spot-check figures in their statistics released earlier.

But despite the low number of arrests - 0.015 per cent of drivers spot-checked - Lancashire police are hailing the campaign as a success.

They say it means the message about not drinking and driving is finally getting across.

Operation High Profile II lasted four weeks and officers stopped motorists on key routes across the county at different times of the day. If drivers admitted to having a drink in the previous eight hours they were breath-tested.

Police also tested people they suspected of drinking and driving and 936 were found to have some level of alcohol in their body but were not breaking the law.

Lancashire police force's head of road safety, Chief Inspector Ian Bell, said: "Our aim throughout was to educate the motoring public not to drink and drive rather than take the risk of having an accident or being arrested.

"That the message got through is in no small way thanks to the co-operation of the media who consistently publicised our advice and warnings."

During the four-week period, patrols were stepped up and drivers involved in accidents were also tested.

In total 225 drivers were arrested and charged after being involved in accidents, caught by spot checks or stopped by other patrols - a major fall compared to last year.

But police have declined to release the total number of breath tests carried out.

The police have also revealed 960 drivers were tested following accidents and 31 were positive. The number of breath tests after accidents fell by just under 400 compared to last year but the number of people injured in accidents caused by drink driving rose slightly. Police chiefs are confident the vast majority of people supported the campaign.

Chief Inspector Bell added: "We are very pleased with the level of public support we received during the campaign.

"We are awaiting the results of an independent survey which was carried out specifically to seek the public's view on a number of issues relating to drinking and driving.

"Early indications are that the public supported this initiative. The constabulary is committed to reducing road casualties on the county's roads and I would like to thank the public for their co-operation."

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