ARRESTS for drink-driving are decreasing as Dorset Police continue to campaign to raise awareness about the consequences and dangers.

Information obtained in a Freedom of Information request by the Echo revealed that between 2010 and 2015, 5,611 arrests were made for drink driving in the county.

In 2010 the number of arrests totalled 1,047 but in 2015 this had decreased to 779 motorists.

Dorset Police believe the reduction in arrests is due to more awareness about the consequences and dangers of drink driving. The force have been campaigning to raise awareness for more than 50 years.

But despite the decrease in arrests calls for the drink drive limit to be lowered have been made to save more lives, make roads safer and bring the country in line with European standards.

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill is putting pressure on the government “to stop playing Russian roulette with people’s lives” and change the law.

The Local Government Association (LGA) is calling for the current alcohol limit to be lowered from 80mg to 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, a move it says could save 170 lives in the first year.

Adding his voice to the campaign Mr Underhill said: “Without justification or clear rationale, the drink drive limit in England and Wales remains out of kilter with European standards. With the Maltese announcing their intention to cut the drink drive limit by a third, we will soon have the highest drink drive threshold in Europe.

“In spite of many calls for the limit to be reduced, the government remains unmoved on the issue.”

Between 2013 and 2015, 239 arrests were made in Weymouth and Portland for drink driving – 166 were made in north Dorset, with 141 in Purbeck, 142 in Dorchester and Sherborne and 97 in Bridport.

Inspector Matt Butler, from the Alliance Roads Policing department, said: “Our efforts to tackle drink driving in Dorset have included pro-active targeting of offenders, high visibility patrols and road checks to deter offenders and management of drivers suspected of drink driving under the Operation Dragoon initiative.

“We also release details of offenders who are brought to justice for drink driving to act as a further deterrent.

“Dorset Police is keen to encourage members of the public to contact 999 if they see a person they believe to be driving under the influence of alcohol.

“We have been involved in a number of multi agency campaigns with our emergency service partners and have been actively raising awareness through both traditional and social media.

“The force also involves victims and family members whose lives have been devastated by the impact of drink driving to help raise awareness and our active education programme involves regular presentations for businesses and other establishments.”