A DECREASE in the number of Christmas drink drivers in Suffolk is still not good enough according to the county's top traffic cop today.Suffolk Constabulary's festive campaign, which ran from 6am on Thursday December 18, until 6am Friday, January 2, showed less people were caught behind the wheel while over the legal alcohol limit.

A DECREASE in the number of Christmas drink drivers in Suffolk is still not good enough according to the county's top traffic cop today.

Suffolk Constabulary's festive campaign, which ran from 6am on Thursday December 18, until 6am Friday, January 2, showed less people were caught behind the wheel while over the legal alcohol limit.

A total of 950 people were asked to provide a breath sample of whom 60 tested positive for excess alcohol. Seven people were arrested after refusing to take a breath test.

Chief Inspector Alan Pawsey, head of Suffolk's traffic unit said; "Overall there was a slight decrease in the number of people who were found to have excess alcohol in their system this year, when compared to the same period last year."

In all 6.4per cent of those stopped and tested were found to have excess alcohol in their system. This compares to 8.6pc last year.

Ch Insp Pawsey said: "While we do take some degree of encouragement from these figures, a small decrease is not good enough, we need to find a way to convince that hard core of drink drivers, who continue to put their own and the lives of others at risk, to stop it."

One hundred and forty three of the 950 people tested for alcohol were tested at the scene of a collision with 13 or nearly 10pc of these either testing positive for excess alcohol or refusing a sample.

"Drink drivers cause death and injury on our roads, they will not get away with it, those we have caught during this campaign are facing a court appearance, financial penalties, loss of their licence and public shaming, thanks to the support the campaign has received from our local media, who play a big part in its promotion.

"In Suffolk we run a drink drive campaign 365 days a year, we do all that is in our power to make the county's roads safe for everyone and we will continue to target that small percentage of motorists who think that they are infallible."

Meanwhile drink driving in Essex over Christmas hit a five-year high it emerged yesterday.

Results have been branded "disappointing" by the county's police force and came despite a high profile.

Of the near-6,500 drivers tested, 264 provided a positive breath specimen - nearly double the proportion five years ago.

Another 25 refused or failed to provide a specimen and 23 motorists were arrested on suspicion of driving whilst under the influence of drugs.

N Suffolk's drink driving roll of shame – see tomorrow's Evening Star.