Operation Dragonfly begins on Monday

Sussex and Surrey Police’s summer crackdown on drink and drug-drivers will begin on Monday (June 1).
Operation Dragonfly is focused on drink and drug-driving SUS-141224-111002001Operation Dragonfly is focused on drink and drug-driving SUS-141224-111002001
Operation Dragonfly is focused on drink and drug-driving SUS-141224-111002001

As part of Operation Dragonfly – the forces’ year-round strategy to deal with drink and drug-drivers – road policing unit officers will be on dedicated patrols looking for offenders.

In previous campaigns, Sussex and Surrey Police have named all those charged with drink or drug-driving offences committed during the month-long crackdown.

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In addition, this year the forces will be releasing footage of convicted offenders showing the state they were in when they got behind the wheel – and how important it is that they are banned from the roads before they hurt anyone.

The campaign is being run jointly by Sussex Police and Surrey Police alongside Sussex Safer Roads Partnership, Drive Smart in Surrey and the independent charity Crimestoppers.

Last summer’s June campaign saw 143 people arrested in Sussex and 91 in Surrey.

Teams will respond to tip-offs from members of the public who see someone they know has been drinking getting into a car to drive.

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Stop checks will also be set up at locations across Sussex and Surrey, in particular at locations where there is intelligence that there has been a history of drink or drug-driving.

Officers will also tweet about people stopped on suspicion of drink or drug-driving offences throughout the month, giving brief details such as when and where the motorists were pulled over.

Chief Inspector Phil Nicholas said: “Officers will be out looking for anyone who has got behind the wheel after drinking or taking drugs.

“We will not tolerate drink or drug-driving and would urge anyone who thinks they know someone who is driving after taking drugs to contact us urgently so that we can act.”

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In a survey by Brake and Direct Line, three per cent of UK motorists – the equivalent of a million drivers across the country – admitted driving while on illegal drugs in the previous 12 months.

In the same survey 5.9 per cent of motorists admitted to getting behind the wheel when they thought they could be over the drink-drive limit – the equivalent of a further two million drink-drivers on the roads.

To watch footage of convicted drug-driver Neil El-Komboz as he goes from being seen driving while on drugs to being arrested and then placed in a cell, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrsBKJRuo6I&feature=youtu.be.

El-Komboz, 30, of Ditchling Rise, Brighton, pleaded guilty to drug-driving when he appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 5 May.

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He was banned from driving for 16 months, fined £110 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

People in Sussex can text officers on 65999 with the details of people they suspect of drink or drug driving or visit www.operationcrackdown.co.uk.

You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

To keep up to date with officers looking for drink or drug drivers, follow #opdragonfly on Twitter.

If you know someone is driving while over the limit or after taking drugs call 999.