A POLICE chief spoke of his dismay last night after revealing dozens of motorists have already tested positive for drinking and driving in Suffolk during the latest festive crackdown.

A POLICE chief spoke of his dismay last night after revealing dozens of motorists have already tested positive for drinking and driving in Suffolk during the latest festive crackdown.

Chief Inspector Alan Pawsey, head of the county's Road Policing Unit, spoke out as Suffolk Constabulary released the latest drink drive statistics.

They show that during the first 15 days of December there were 65 positive results from 1,042 breath tests.

Mr Pawsey said: “It is obvious that a small core of people seem determined to ignore the drink and drug drive legislation.

“There is no excuse or justification for this behaviour, with all of the publicity surrounding drink and drug driving, no one can claim to be ignorant about the potential tragic consequences of consuming alcohol and drugs and getting behind the wheel of a vehicle.

“Officers in Suffolk actively seek drunk or drugged drivers, looking for any tell-tale sign, such as lights not on or not working properly or vehicles being poorly controlled, anything which might indicate that the driver is not properly aware of what they are doing.

“These drivers will be stopped and tested for drink and drug use. Where they test positive they will face the full force of the law, there are no acceptable excuses.

“The rule is simple if you have a drink or take drugs, including prescription drugs which carry a warning not to drive, then don't drive.”