Supt Jane Derrick Sussex Police

Women and Alcohol

2Surrey & Sussex – Policing Together

Women and Alcohol

Overview of Presentation

What has changed ? History of Drink Driving in the UK What should we do differently ?

What are the challenges going forward ?

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Women and alcohol

Many cultural changes in the UK Alcohol is a contributory factor in many

areas of policing Peak seasons – Christmas and the

Summer

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Nothing’s changed ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6q4nCjPakyQ&feature=youtu.be

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Working closer with Crime Stoppers Proactive media campaign Live Text Number 65999 Decision to name those charged The morning after impact Wider safeguarding issues

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Review Of Local Drink Drive Campaign In Sussex

516 alcohol related collisions with 693 injuries – 162 seriously injured and 14 fatalities

21% of ‘drink drivers’ were female 84% lived in Sussex Brighton and Hove was the ‘hotspot’ Emerging issue of female drink drivers between

40 – 49 years

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Case Studies

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mp4GvAdBkM 1964 ………

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The statistics

Then Now ..

In 1967, 1,640 out of a total of 7,319 road deaths was associated with-drink driving.

In 2012, that figure was 230 out of 1,754 road deaths.

In 1979 33% of all drivers killed were over the legal limit.

In 2012, that figure was 18 %.

In 2003, 80,715 people were convicted of drink-driving

By 2012, that figure had fallen to 48,661

In 1967, 30 % of drivers thought that they would drive after two pints, without fear of prosecution

In 2014, 76% of people say ‘It isn't safe to drive after two drinks'

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A national problem ..

Report published in September 2014 identified :

Increase in women caught drink driving – rising to 17% in 2012 from 9% in 1998

The legal limit was set based on the metabolism rates of a man in 1964 – Women react differently

1/6 women admit they had driven whilst over the limit in the last year

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The emerging issues

Culturally – changes in our relationship with alcohol as a society

Drinking among women is increasing Statistics show that 63% of all alcohol

purchased is drunk at home More stressful lives – relying on alcohol

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Why Do Women Drink and Drive ?

They felt ‘ok to drive’ Thought they wouldn’t get stopped Their gender specific roles and

responsibilities Advertising all aimed at men Not sure of the legal limits

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Other considerations …

How we Police the Strategic Road Networks .. Anecdotal feedback

How do we protect the vulnerable ? What about prescribed drugs ? What about controlled drugs and legal

highs ?

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The value of Body Worn video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jScIk12WMTw

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Some considerations ?..

Emerging communities attitudes Getting caught has to be a real risk New education and campaigns are

required to redress the bias Random Breath Testing ?

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Wider Debates

Debate around minimum pricing Legal limits – need to review ? The ‘2 for 1’ offers are targeting those who

are most vulnerable Putting the calorific value on a bottle may

assist

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Drug Driving.. A Way Forward

Pilots looking to deal with those driving whilst under the influence of drugs

Predominantly a male issue Enforcement is only one element

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In conclusion

Nationally we have an issue that we need to recognise - together

We need to review what we do now and look wider into Europe to see what we can learn and adopt as part of our plans

Review the legal limits and the current education and media campaigns

Promote the impact of alcohol in the widest context the whole of society.

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I’ll leave you with this ….

http://www.gigwise.com/videos/95963/kool-and-the-gang-celebration-soundtracks-drink-driving-advert

Driving Among British Women and its impact on their pedestrians and

driving activities –Social Research Associates funded by the Rees Jeffery Road Fund