NEARLY 200 drivers have been arrested in drink-related incidents in central Oxford in three years.
Police figures have revealed that 190 people were arrested in alcohol-related incidents involving cars between January 2016 and March 2019.
Young males were the most prolific offenders, with 165 of the cases involving men, and most occurring late at night or in the early hours.
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The figures, obtained via a Freedom of Information request, could be significantly lower than the reality, since they only shows recorded incidents in which the classification has the word 'alcohol' in.
Police were asked how many people were arrested in the city centre for alcohol related incidents in the past three years, but did not provide the full data on the grounds that it would exceed the time allowed in law to process such requests.
Just four of the offences involved people aged 50 or over, while 91 were aged 25 - 33, 42 were 16 - 24 and 35 were 34 - 42.
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Sergeant Rob Heard of Thames Valley Police roads policing unit said: “Drink and drug driving is one of the fatal four.
“We know that if you are impaired by drink or drugs you are more likely to be involved in collision which might cause serious injury or death. Thames Valley Police will continue to enforce the law and prosecute drivers who see fit to use drink or drugs whilst driving."
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He continued: “We will continue to educate the public around the dangers of the fatal four and the devastating impact they can have on people’s lives. The message is simple: if you are driving, then taking any amount of drink or drugs will cause some form of impairment. It’s not worth the risk.”
The incidents were broken down into four categories: '(driving) when alcohol level above limit' (102); '(driving) while unfit through drink' (65); 'in charge of motor vehicle - alcohol level above limit (21); and 'in charge of vehicle whilst unfit through drink' (two).
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