Dungannon has worst record of drink drivers in the West

Between May 2012 and May 2014, Dungannon Court convicted a total of 425 motorists for drink driving, which was twice as many as the courts at Magherafelt, Omagh, Strabane and Armagh.

Enniskillen had the second highest number of arrests at 342.

The figures come as the Assembly examines legislation that could see the drink-drive limit reduced by almost 40%.

Across Northern Ireland, the figures show that over 80% of those arrested were men, while the most common time of arrest was between 12am and 6am.

There were almost 30 arrests for drink or drug driving offences related to individuals aged 15 and 16. The oldest person arrested was 86-years-old.

PSNI Road Policing Inspector, Rosie Leech, said the rate of offending is too high.

She said: “The arrest rate will always be too high for our liking. We believe drivers should be responsible and never drink and drive. When we don’t arrest anyone for failing preliminary breath test, then we’ll consider our education and enforcement strategies to be working.”