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West Midlands Police offer £200 reward in drink-drive campaign | West Midlands Police offer £200 reward in drink-drive campaign |
(about 13 hours later) | |
A motoring organisation has criticised a drink-drive campaign which rewards people who report offenders with payments of up to £200. | |
The RAC has said the Christmas safety campaign, which is being led by West Midlands Police and Central Motorway Police Group, has a "lot of issues" about how it is enforced. | |
Money will be offered to anyone whose information leads to a conviction. | |
The forces said they hoped the campaign would save lives. | |
They added they also planned to release photos of all drivers found guilty. | |
'Shouldn't need incentive' | 'Shouldn't need incentive' |
Matt Dallaway from the RAC said he was not a "great fan" of the incentive. | |
"If you think it through, there are some real practical issues about how this scheme is used," he said. | |
"For instance, how do you police this once the person has made the phone call? | |
"I think most responsible motorists will prefer to encourage people not to get their keys out if they are in that condition." | |
Tony Dring, from the Campaign Against Drink Driving group, said it was "disappointing" that it had come to people "having to shop their mates". | |
He said: "It shouldn't need a £200 incentive but if that's what it takes to save a life, whether it be your own or somebody you love, then so be it." | |
West Midlands Police said about 4,000 drivers were breathalysed last year, with more than 300 prosecuted for failing the test. | |
People can make reports of suspected drink-drivers anonymously via the Crimestoppers service, the force said. | |
Insp Greg Jennings said: "We would still urge people to consider the consequences of drink-driving before they get in the car but if people have legitimate concerns about a friend they can call us with locations and details of the vehicle so we can act." | Insp Greg Jennings said: "We would still urge people to consider the consequences of drink-driving before they get in the car but if people have legitimate concerns about a friend they can call us with locations and details of the vehicle so we can act." |
He said the rewards would be paid from a £10,000 budget set aside for the force's annual drink-drive campaign. | He said the rewards would be paid from a £10,000 budget set aside for the force's annual drink-drive campaign. |
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