POLICE in Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands have appealed for the community’s support after an increase in drink and drug driving offences.
Motoring offences in the administrative area have also seen a 39 per cent year-on-year increase as officers ramp up their efforts.
But they have underlined the importance of residents reporting any dangerous driving, along with the impact on communities.
The details feature in a report to Argyll and Bute Council’s Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands community planning group for its meeting on Wednesday, August 27.
Inspector Matthew Shaw said in the document: “Our response officers and road policing units continue to work hard to improve the safety of the road network by identifying and prosecuting those users committing offences.
“As such we have seen a general increase for the same period of last year of 39 per cent for recorded offences. The offences leading the increase in recording are primarily careless driving, i.e. dangerous overtakes and vehicle defects, i.e. bald tyres.
“Again, drink and drug driving continues to be a blight on our communities with an 8.3 per cent increase from last year. We continue to see the impact of this on communities and families of those affected.
“We can only ask that the community report any incidents as they occur so that we can help prevent tragedies from occurring.
“We cannot make a change in culture without the community’s support.”
The inspector added: “You can help your local police by reporting anyone who is suspected of drink or drug driving within your community either in person, via 101 or via Crimestoppers online.
“We are finding a trend where we are receiving feedback from partners and community councils of problematic driving standards ‘after the offending is occurring’.
“It is really important that police are called at the time of the offending so we can catch the behaviour taking place. This helps us provide key evidence to take action and prosecute offending.
“It is also noted that people wish to remain anonymous in reports. Whilst this is a way to report, this does make the role of prosecuting offenders harder for police. Where communities stand together to say know to certain crime types, we can make a real difference.”
