Five people in the Thames Valley were arrested and charged with drink-driving over the Christmas period thanks to calls to the Crimestoppers hotline.

The Kidlington-based call centre has received 66 calls giving tip-offs about people suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol since the beginning of December. Operators expect more people to be charged after police finish their investigations into allegations made via the confidential hotline.

As reported in the Oxford Mail on Wednesday, the number of people caught drink-driving in Oxfordshire over the Christmas period fell by seven per cent, with ten testing positive in 2001, compared with 15 the year before.

Sixty-three people tested positive across the Thames Valley force area.

The Thames Valley board of Crimestoppers is also encouraged that calls about drink-driving have quadrupled since this time last year.

The people reported are mainly persistent offenders who regularly drive when unfit through drink.

Although a campaign emphasises that rewards may be paid if a Crimestoppers caller's information leads to someone being arrested and charged, only two requests for rewards were made.

This is typical, according to Roy Trustram Eve, chairman of Thames Valley Crimestoppers.

He said: "The fact is that people are not motivated by rewards but by common sense.

"With the maximum of £50 paid for drink-driving offences, nobody is going to be attracted by the rewards alone. Once again, Thames Valley Police and Crimestoppers are making communities and roads safer."

In its 31 months of operation, the Thames Valley Crimestoppers line has received 2,850 calls, leading to 325 people being charged with criminal offences.

Anyone wishing to give information on crimes or suspected offenders can call the Crimestoppers hotline -- anonymously if they wish -- on 0800 555111.