June 2025: A Year in Review

Dear Resident

Drink Driver appeared at Court 

Welcome to Day 6 of the 2025 Year in Review series where I am recapping some positive outcomes achieved by local Police and raising awareness about some crime types. Given recent National News regarding the legal drink drive limit, I thought it pertinent to share a story which was seen in St Albans Magistrates’ Court in June 2025. 

In April 2025, a vehicle was observed by officers driving erratically and speeding on Leverstock Green Way in Hemel Hempstead in the early evening. The vehicle was brought to a stop and officers administered a preliminary roadside breath test due to there being a suspicion that the driver was under the influence of alcohol. The driver blew nearly three times the legal limit at the roadside (which is currently 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath) leading to his arrest. The suspect was required to provide an evidential sample of breath whilst in Custody but refused to comply. This led to him being charged with Failing to Provide a Specimen for Analysis, for which he was bailed to attend Court. The suspect then Failed to Surrender to Court Bail at the appointed time. 

The defendant, who resides in St Albans, eventually appeared in the dock in June 2025 charged with the above offences. He was disqualified from driving for 24 months, fined £50, ordered to pay court costs of £85 as well as a surcharge of £114. He was required to complete 120 hours of unpaid work required to be completed within 12 months.

Drink driving is one of the recognised Fatal Four main behaviours which significantly contribute to road traffic collisions. Alcohol impairs judgment, slows reflexes, and blurs vision, making it extremely dangerous to get behind the wheel after having a drink. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents published statistics last year which stated that in 2023, the Department for Transport estimated 260 people were killed in drink drive collisions. Around 6,310 people were injured or killed in collisions. Thankfully, this driver was stopped by Police before a collision happened, however the Court recognised the risk this driver posed to the wider public and imposed necessary sanctions like disqualifying him from driving for 2 years. 

Police regularly engage with drivers to ensure they are driving safely and lawfully. Our Licencing Officer works with licenced premises to ensure everyone is doing their bit to prevent driving whilst under the influence and to ensure suspicious incidents are reported so that frontline resources can swiftly intervene. If you see someone get into the driver’s seat of a vehicle after having a few drinks, please report this to Police with vehicle information and a description of the driver. This kind of behaviour should not be tolerated. Thank you for your support on the matter.

As always, if you have any thoughts or questions about this topic, please don’t hesitate to tell us by responding to this message.

Kind regards

Fiona