Sobering statistics provided to The Leader have police baffled, with more than 50 drink-drivers reported across the Oxley, New England and Barwon police commands over the festive season.

What’s even more upsetting, senior officers said, is those who didn’t record a high-range drink driving charge were close to it; with many medium readings towards the higher end of the spectrum.

The results are part of Operation Safe Arrival, which began on December 16 and ended at midnight on Monday.

During the state-wide operation, the region’s police detected 791 drivers speeding, 33 people not wearing seat belts, or children not in approved restraints, and 59 people who tested positive to cannabis or methamphetamine.

“We’ve issued 575 other traffic infringement notices,” Highway patrol sergeant Mick Buko said.

“We’ve had 16 traffic charges, a couple of them were related to pursuits and other matters. There were 20 motor vehicle crashes and we were fatality free.”

Police conducted more than 18,000 breath tests throughout the operation, with 52 motorists caught drink driving  – 11 with a high range reading.

Peel Cluster Senior Sergeant Brett Davies said this was a ‘concerning trend’. 

“My opinion is, a lot of those that were detected with a high range PCA could have an alcohol problem and that’s what needs to be dealt with,” he said. 

“It’s sad that they choose to put other’s lives at risk because of their problem.

“In that there’s 24-medium range PCAs, but there was quite a number of those that were in the high range of medium, they were the 0.13 and 0.14 and that trend is alarming.”

Sergeant Buko said police were concerned by the actions of motorists involving young children unrestrained in a vehicle, including a seven-month-old child found on a front-seat passenger’s lap, south of Tamworth.

He said on New Year’s Eve a 34-year-old was charged with drink driving, after they were found to be travelling the wrong way around a round-about and recorded a blood alcohol reading of .240.

Police said on the same night a driver who was disqualified until 2033, was involved in a short pursuit with police through West Tamworth streets.

Senior Sergeant Davies said police would now analyse their results to determine their future tasking measures and trends across the Peel Cluster.

“It could be a case if we see trends in certain areas, we can start moving staff operationally in areas where there’s a higher risk” Senior Sergeant Davies said.