World Cup prompts drink-drive crackdown

News imageGetty Images The front of a police car and an office standing next to it. On the officer's chest is a blue strip saying "police" in white behind a walkie-talkie. There is another police car behind the firstGetty Images
Sussex Police is preparing to launch a crackdown campaign on drink and drug drivers

Police have launched a roadside crackdown on drink and drug driving as football fans prepare for the World Cup.

Sussex Police were carrying out checks in Crawley, on Wednesday, where at least one e-scooter rider was arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of drugs.

Officers were concerned that celebrations linked to matches in the US, Mexico and Canada could lead to people getting behind the wheel while impaired.

Insp Vicki Rees said the same laws applied to e-scooters as cars and warned: "If you have been drinking and taking drugs you can be arrested, and you will lose your driving licence if you are convicted, in exactly the same way as if you were driving a car."

News imageSupt Jo Grantham. She is a female police officer in a hat with a peak and a police badge. She has black, almost rectangular spectacles, made perhaps from plastic or acetate. Jo has blonde hair
Supt Jo Grantham warned people about getting behind the wheel the day after drinking

Insp Rees said some riders wrongly believed e-scooters were exempt from normal road laws despite being classed as motor vehicles in many circumstances.

Supt Jo Grantham said: "For those people that are involved in those gatherings the risk of them getting back in a vehicle is so high it is really important for us to be out and educating.

"And that is not just at the time of the event, or just after the event.

"It could be the morning after, it could be the next day and in some cases for drugs it could be even longer than that."

England's first World Cup match against Croatia kicks off at 21:00 BST in America's Dallas Stadium and is being broadcast on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.