Gloucestershire Police carried out over 600 breath tests on drivers and arrested 52 people during the annual summer drink drive campaign.

The Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership, which includes Gloucestershire Police, launched its summer campaign on June 1 to appeal to drivers to make proper plans for getting home safely if they had been out socialising, particularly after watching the football in pubs and clubs.

The campaign ran until June 30 and during the month officers around the county carried out breath tests on a total of 619 drivers.

52 of those breath tested – 8 per cent - either refused to give a breath specimen or gave a positive breath test, some of whom have already appeared in court and been banned from driving.

Inspector of the Constabulary’s Road Safety and Traffic Management department, Keith Fagan, said he was pleased to see a reduction in the figures but was keen to see them drop further.

He said; “These figures show a decrease on the number of people arrested during the summer drink drive campaign last year. In 2009 we carried out breath tests on 754 drivers, with 12 per cent failing or refusing to cooperate.

“We’re incredibly pleased at this reduction on last year’s figures and that drivers are heeding the advice given in the campaign. However, it is disappointing that there are still people who insist on risking their lives and the lives of others by drinking and driving.

“We would like to reassure the community that our work doesn’t end when the campaign does and we will continue to be vigilant in bringing offenders to justice and keeping the county’s roads safe.”

The drivers arrested will now be processed through the courts and those proven to have been drink driving will have a 12 month driving ban imposed on them. They will also receive a criminal record, could receive up to six months in prison and a fine of up to £5,000.