Police have arrested nearly 50 people for drink or drug driving across Avon and Somerset in the first week of the Operation Tonic Christmas campaign. Since it started on Dec 1, a total of 47 motorists who have been stopped have tested positive.
This Christmas police are asking people to shop a drink or drug driver by ringing 999 or texting the word drunk to a special number, 81819, from their mobile and giving the driver's details if they see anyone getting behind the wheel while under the influence.
I am very sad to hear that Colin Port is standing down as Chief Constable of Avon & Somerset Constabulary. Colin has been an outstanding Chief Constable over the last seven years and we will not find it easy to replace him with a person of such professionalism, integrity and quality of performance.
The new Police and Crime Commissioners will need to work hard to make sure they retain senior officers of high quality so that we don’t lose some of the top performers within our police service.
Independent candidate is Avon and Somerset's new PCC
Businesswoman Sue Mountstevens has just been announced as the new Police and Crime Commissioner for the Avon and Somerset force area Credit: Sue Mountstevens
Our reporter Richard Payne is at the count in Frenchay near Bristol. He says the result in the Avon and Somerset PCC election is due at 1730, with independent Sue Mountstevens strong favourite.
The election for the new post of Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset will go to a second count. The first count put the Independendent candidate ahead with the Conservatives in second place. The two others will now step aside for them to battle it out over voters' second choices.
Now what would you do if you saw a bike being stolen? Well, if you're like the people filmed by Avon and Somerset Police when they staged a mock theft, then the answer is 'not a lot'.
This amazing footage shows a plain clothes officer cutting bikes free using giant cutters, but no one reported him to the police. The film is part of a campaign to get us to call the Police if we see bikes being nicked.
