Summer drink drive arrests increase in Cumbria
Cumbria Police has said it will toughen its stance on drink drivers after the number of people caught over the limit rose for the second year running.
In June, 95 people were arrested after officers carried out breath tests during a summer awareness campaign.
In the same month in 2009, 88 arrests were made, while in 2008 49 were held.
The force claimed the increase was a result of officers targeting areas where people were more likely to be drink driving.
Ch Insp Kevin Greenhow said: "The figures reveal an alarming reality - a significant number of people in Cumbria continue to think it is acceptable to get behind the wheel while they are over the drink drive limit.
"We work incredibly hard with our partners to get the message around the dangers of drink driving through to people but it seems that to some, the message falls on deaf ears.
"Our positive efforts to target and educate irresponsible drivers will continue but we need the help of the community to make drink driving socially unacceptable.
"We need individuals to realise that neither police or the communities in Cumbria will tolerate those who needlessly put the lives of innocent road users at risk."
Of the 95 people caught over the limit in June, 23 of the arrests were made after road traffic collisions.