A TOTAL of 245 people have been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving so far in the Thames Valley Police festive season crackdown.

The latest figures released by police run from the start of the ‘Is it worth the risk?’ campaign on December 1 until the end of Sunday night, December 29.

Of those arrested, 139 have been charged, with 71 bailed and 35 released with no further action.

And of the three counties covered by the campaign, most of the arrests have been made in Buckinghamshire – a total of 94. A further 89 arrests have been made in Berkshire and 62 in Oxfordshire.

Chief Inspector for Hampshire Constabulary and Thames Valley Roads Policing Unit, Henry Parsons said: “As we move in to the final days of the Christmas anti-drink drive campaign officers will continue to tackle drink drivers at every opportunity.

“We want you all to enjoy whatever it is that you are doing to see in the New Year and will continue to stop those that are still taking the risk. Having a drink and getting behind the wheel can cost lives, and those caught will face serious consequences. I would like to thank the public for their ongoing support for our ‘Is it worth the risk?’ campaign”.

The campaign has seen 200 men and 45 women arrested. The most recent figures for this year show there has been 17 percent decrease in arrests of women (down from 54 this time last year) and a 1 percent increase in arrests of men (up from 198 this time last year).

This year’s arrests show a 3 percent decrease on the 252 arrests made during the same period in 2012.

The campaign, which runs until tomorrow, sees police targeting individuals they suspect of driving under the influence of drink or drugs, both on the way home from nights out and the morning after a heavy night.