Drink-drive operation catches 76

Police said the campaign's results were encouraging

A fall in festive drink-drivers being caught in the Grampian area has been welcomed by police.

A total of 18 motorists were caught in the fourth and final week of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (Acpos) campaign.

Fifteen men and three women were arrested between 29 December and 5 January.

It meant a total of 76 positive breath tests were recorded in the 2008 campaign, down from 84 in 2007.

'Efforts continue'

Ch Insp Tom Forrester, head of Grampian's roads policing, said: "I am again encouraged by the returns from the final week of this campaign.

"The fact that only 18 people have been detected hopefully is an indication that the message is getting across.

"Our efforts will continue throughout 2009 to detect and deter those motorists who irresponsibly choose to drink and drive."

A quarter of the drivers caught were aged between 17 and 25.