Humberside Police has launched its annual crackdown on drink-drivers over the festive period – hoping to catch those who have a tipple and get behind the wheel. Grimsby Telegraph reporter Sam Kinnaird and photographer Jon Corken spent a night with the force's Roads Policing Unit in Grimsby and Cleethorpes on Friday to see exactly how they are putting the brakes on motorists who are over the limit.
"WE SEE the consequences of drink-drivers' actions and we know the tragedy they can bring."
The words of PC Rob Stanley, of Humberside Police's Roads Policing Unit, a family liaison officer who has more reason than most to remove drink-drivers from our roads.
He has knocked on countless front doors over the years, bearing the most tragic of news as a result of the actions of those who consume alcohol and get behind the wheel.
"The sensible option is to have nothing to drink at all if you are going to be driving – and remember it takes two hours for every pint to go through the body," he said.
The night began with random breath checks on Grimsby's Victoria Street on a mild but seemingly quiet Friday night. One by one, vehicles were pulled in by the officers, though some came in voluntarily, and each was happy to blow into the breathalyser tube.
First up was a taxi driver who blew zero, but was warned about a defective light on his car. He was followed by a driver who recalled his last roadside breath test in Australia in 1974. Both tests came back negative.
More drivers came and went. One admitted to having a pint with his tea – but all were well under the drink-drive limit.
"It's very much pot luck with the roadside checks," said PC Stanley.
"Some are coming in voluntarily and that shows how the public feels about drink-driving.
"When we are out driving, we are looking for the signs of drink-driving, like the manner of the driving and any defects on the vehicle."
One driver who was stopped by PC Stanley's colleague, PC John Rickells, admitted it was an odd experience, despite having had nothing to drink.
"It was all a bit nerve-racking for some reason," she said.
"But it is a good idea to be having campaigns like this, especially at this time of year when people will be risking it after a drink.
"After just one glass of wine you are feeling a bit worse for wear, so behind the wheel you would not be fully in control and people need to be aware of that."
After just a dozen or so roadside checks, PCs Stanley and Rickells were made aware of a suspected drunk driver in Cleethorpes – and within minutes they were on the scene.
It turned out to be a false alarm, but just seconds beforehand, PCSOs had been concerned when a man left a pub with a pint of beer and got into his car. It transpired the drinker was just escaping the loud music in the warmth of his vehicle and had no intention of driving, but he was advised by officers that it might not have been the wisest move.
Moments later the two PCs were off again, this time to a pickup truck spotted driving erratically by a bus driver on the A180. They didn't find the truck, but instead found the scene of a crash between a van and a car on the corner of Daubney Street and Grimsby Road, in Cleethorpes.
The van driver had ploughed into the back of the car and had made off from the scene, leaving the car driver to pick up the pieces.
"The guy just came hurtling towards the back of my car, and within seconds he had eyeballed me and was off," said the car driver, 29.
"I was on my own but in the car in front of me were a two-year-old boy and a pregnant girl, so I am glad it was me that got hit.
"I'm a bit shaken and in a bit of pain, but by instinct I took the van's number plate."
Once again the two PCs raced off into the night, this time in pursuit of the van, which witnesses said had driven off towards Ladysmith Road, in Grimsby.
But behind lay the smashed up car and debris, and a driver grateful he was not more seriously hurt.
As the Grimsby Telegraph sloped off to bed, the two officers scoured the area looking for the van before they could continue their hunt for drink-drivers.
"We might not catch any drink-drivers tonight but people will see us conducting these checks and if they think twice about getting behind the wheel after a drink then we've done our job," said PC Rickells.
The message from Humberside Police this Christmas is clear: "We do not want to stop people going out and enjoying themselves, but what we do want to do is stop people consuming alcohol and thinking it is all right to drive."
Drivers caught with excess alcohol in their system, could face a £5,000 fine, a lengthy ban and a criminal record – leading to the possibility of losing their job and reputation.
"It is just not worth the risk," said PC Stanley.
"For the sake of the cost of a taxi it really is not worth it. People ask us how much they can drink but there is no hard and fast level, the best option is to drink nothing at all."
Report a drink-driver to Humberside Police on 101, or 999 if the situation is an emergency.
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