Crimestoppers
Fearless - Our Youth Service
Cumbria residents asked to speak up on drink drivers
This Christmas, we are encouraging the public in Cumbria to speak up about regular drink driving based on real calls to our UK Contact Centre.
The temptation to drive whilst over the alcohol limit can increase with Christmas office parties and get-togethers. The campaign this year is using real-life examples taken from information we have received at the UK Contact Centre last year including:
• A mum drunk on the school run
• A work colleague regularly driving home drunk after going to the pub from work
Last year (April 17-March 18) we nationally received nearly 14,000 calls and online reports about drink drivers. As a result, there were over 1,500 positive outcomes and actions with at least 150 people arrested and charged.
Cumbria is a rural county, so the charity has seen an increase in calls from people concerned that someone they know is risking the longer drive home whilst being drunk behind the wheel.
We want to help keep people safe over Christmas and New Year and we are asking anyone with information to speak up and stay safe by telling us 100% anonymously who is getting behind the wheel whilst over the limit.
The campaign is part of a year-long initiative between the PCC, Cumbria Police, and Crimestoppers, working in partnership to make Cumbria’s roads safer.
Gary Murray, Regional Manager, said:
“Drink drivers put other people’s lives at risk and your information could help prevent an accident from happening and could even help save lives.
“We appreciate that if you’re close to someone who gets behind the wheel regularly whilst over the limit, it can be difficult to come forward. It could be a work colleague, a neighbour, or even a family member or a friend. This can explain why some people are reluctant to go to the police because of the fear of being identified.
“By trusting us with your information you’ll remain 100% anonymous. Always. We never take personal details and calls to our UK Contact Centre on 0800 555 111 and information passed through the Anonymous Online Form cannot be traced. Together we can help protect those you care about.”
Peter McCall, Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “We are committed to improving road safety and promoting safer driving in Cumbria, not least because time and again, the public tell me it is of real concern – as the Summer Survey results illustrate. Through this campaign we are really keen to get the message out to people that we all have a personal responsibility to help keep our roads safe.
“It is a sad fact that most accidents are caused by our own unsafe behaviours, such as driving at inappropriate speeds, not wearing seatbelts, driving while drunk or on drugs, or by allowing ourselves to be distracted through using mobile phones and other devices while driving.
“Throughout this campaign we will be working with our partners, local communities and agencies to highlight the many aspects of safer driving. We will be raising awareness of the dangers of unsafe behaviours through education and engagement with our communities, with a view to focussing on a different theme each month. Given the time of year with many people enjoying Christmas activities, this month the focus will be on the dangers of driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs.”
If you have any information about someone who is a regular drink driver, you can contact us 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via the non-traceable online form. In over 30 years we have always kept our guarantee of anonymity to everyone who contacts us.
***If you see someone attempting to operate a vehicle whilst intoxicated please call 999 as this may require urgent police action.***
• A mum drunk on the school run
• A work colleague regularly driving home drunk after going to the pub from work
Last year (April 17-March 18) we nationally received nearly 14,000 calls and online reports about drink drivers. As a result, there were over 1,500 positive outcomes and actions with at least 150 people arrested and charged.
Cumbria is a rural county, so the charity has seen an increase in calls from people concerned that someone they know is risking the longer drive home whilst being drunk behind the wheel.
We want to help keep people safe over Christmas and New Year and we are asking anyone with information to speak up and stay safe by telling us 100% anonymously who is getting behind the wheel whilst over the limit.
The campaign is part of a year-long initiative between the PCC, Cumbria Police, and Crimestoppers, working in partnership to make Cumbria’s roads safer.
Gary Murray, Regional Manager, said:
“Drink drivers put other people’s lives at risk and your information could help prevent an accident from happening and could even help save lives.
“We appreciate that if you’re close to someone who gets behind the wheel regularly whilst over the limit, it can be difficult to come forward. It could be a work colleague, a neighbour, or even a family member or a friend. This can explain why some people are reluctant to go to the police because of the fear of being identified.
“By trusting us with your information you’ll remain 100% anonymous. Always. We never take personal details and calls to our UK Contact Centre on 0800 555 111 and information passed through the Anonymous Online Form cannot be traced. Together we can help protect those you care about.”
Peter McCall, Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “We are committed to improving road safety and promoting safer driving in Cumbria, not least because time and again, the public tell me it is of real concern – as the Summer Survey results illustrate. Through this campaign we are really keen to get the message out to people that we all have a personal responsibility to help keep our roads safe.
“It is a sad fact that most accidents are caused by our own unsafe behaviours, such as driving at inappropriate speeds, not wearing seatbelts, driving while drunk or on drugs, or by allowing ourselves to be distracted through using mobile phones and other devices while driving.
“Throughout this campaign we will be working with our partners, local communities and agencies to highlight the many aspects of safer driving. We will be raising awareness of the dangers of unsafe behaviours through education and engagement with our communities, with a view to focussing on a different theme each month. Given the time of year with many people enjoying Christmas activities, this month the focus will be on the dangers of driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs.”
If you have any information about someone who is a regular drink driver, you can contact us 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via the non-traceable online form. In over 30 years we have always kept our guarantee of anonymity to everyone who contacts us.
***If you see someone attempting to operate a vehicle whilst intoxicated please call 999 as this may require urgent police action.***
