Ascension : Police Report
Submitted by The Islander (Police Ascension) 05.11.2009 (Article Archived on 19.11.2009)

Following on from a recent article in relation to Drink Drive. First of all we must examine the consequences of drink drive.

POLICE  REPORT

THE EMERGENCY NUMBER FOR THE POLICE IS:

6666

This number is staffed 24/7 if it is a genuine emergency please use it.

Just because there is not a Police Officer in the Police Station it does not mean there are no officers on duty.

Following on from a recent article in relation to Drink Drive. First of all we must examine the consequences of drink drive. To put this in context, drinking and driving is not an offence. This only becomes an offence when the driver is found to be over the legal limit. But what are the consequences of drinking and driving?  Drinking and driving wreck the lives of those loved ones who are left behind as a result of a drunken driver in a collision. Family life cannot be enjoyed, because a drunk driver has killed someone. You have ruined someone else’s life and your own. 

Get caught drink driving and you’ll be processed like any other criminal. The courts are taking a very serious view of drinking and driving.  Here is what you can expect when caught for drinking and driving.

• A criminal record,
• A minimum 12 months disqualification,
• The possibility of a  prison sentence,
• The possibility of  hefty fine up to(£500)
• The possibility  of losing your job,
• Your lifestyle could change drastically,
• Your motor insurance premiums will be much higher once you get your licence back.

These are just some of the things a person can expect when they are convicted for drinking and driving. The penalties are severe.  Is it really worth the risk? Well the simple answer is No-Never.  If you drink and drive not only are you jeopardising yourself, you are putting other road users at risk.

There is no fail safe answer as to how much one can drink before reaching the legal limit.  Much of this depends on your gender, height, weight and metabolism.   It is no use having a cold shower or drinking cups of coffee to sober up before you drive. The safest option is not to consume any alcohol at all.  The drinks we consumed below are typical Levels of Alcohol, Volume% abv

·       Beers and Lagers  3-8 %

·       Wines 10-14%

·       Port, Sherry 15-20%

·       Spirits 37%

·       Liqueurs various.

Ascension and St Helena have the world’s highest limit for drink driving.  The majority of the other British Overseas Territories have the same limit as in the UK, which is the highest limit in Europe. The limits are much lower in some other EU countries.  You would have read with interest from the Island Council meetings a debate has been put forward to have the drink drive limit lowered to, 35 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath, 80 milligrammes in 100 millilitres of blood and 107milligrames in 100 millilitres in urine.   Whilst we the police take drink and drive seriously, statistics will show that there has been a reduction in traffic collisions and drink drive offences.  It  is not necessarily the case that drink was a attributing factor to the cause of the collision. That is not to say this will always be maintained to such a low volume. This all depends on the individual, which is self education on the consequences of drink driving. We will continue to be proactive through an enforcement of creating awareness.  This can be achieved by a number of ways, publicity through the Islander, high visible presence in the community and campaigns.  

A driver being involved in a collision, in charge or attempting to drive a vehicle should not run away with the idea, that the police only have the power to breath test them for that particular cause. There are a number of offences that can be committed that would give a police officer reasonable cause to breath test a driver.  To name but a few of them, the most recent offence that can be committed in law is for a driver not wearing a seat belt where fitted, exceeding the speed limit, mounting a roadside kerb, as in driving without due care and attention, defective lights during the hours of darkness, bald tyre, failing to comply with a road traffic sign, the most common one is the stop sign and zig- zagging about the road. To keep safe just remember don’t drink and drive- or at least drink within moderation to ensure you are a safe driver. Lower drink drive limits don’t mean you can’t go out and enjoy your evening.  You could go out in a group with one person being the responsible driver and not drinking. The next time someone else in the group does the driving.

REPORTS TO POLICE

There have been several instances whereby reports are made to another party and not the police.  By having to do this your complaint or concerns could be jeopardise, before a police investigation can be instigated. Whenever you have a report to be made, regardless of the nature we will determine the course of action to be taken. It is far better to do this, then to be told that your complaint cannot be investigated because, some vital piece  of  evidence were lost, due  to the fact of the time elapse. This normally occurs in cases of forensics, where the evidence is destroyed, by persons contaminating the scene, or for the police to collate immediate evidence such as sound levels in noise pollution. On completion of a successful investigation and in consultation with the Crown Counsel a decision will betaken as to whether or not to prosecute in the public interest.

The subject of drinking and driving to be continued:

Reg Williams

Inspector of Police