ALMOST two people are arrested every day on drink driving charges in Redbridge - one of the highest rates in London.

The revelation comes from the London Assembly, which has obtained figures showing that 640 drivers in the borough were held by police for the offence last year.

Despite 24 other London boroughs seeing a drop in arrests, in Redbridge they have actually risen every year since 2005.

Police put the figures down to better enforcement from its officers, coupled with the location of the Met's traffic unit at Chadwell Heath - even though Redbridge Police have the lowest success rate in catching people using their mobile phones while driving in London.

However some say the number of pubs and clubs in the area, along with drinks promotions and relatively weaker public transport links, could be to blame.

Carole Whittingham, whose son Stephen was killed by a driver high on drugs and drink in 1992, said a change in attitude was needed if the number of those arrested was ever to fall.

She told the Guardian: “I’m sure that the number of pubs and clubs in Redbridge are contributing to it. There’s a binge drinking culture which many people are taking part in, and many young people get in a car and just think they’re invincible.

“I don’t think there is one resolution to it. There has to be a multifaceted approach.

"It isn’t just about enforcement but a change in attitude and greater education. And you can kill someone drink driving and not even go to prison. There’s not the strong deterrent that’s needed.

“My son’s killer got a 13 month youth custodial sentence. I find it obscene. What relatives are after is not vengeance but justice - it is very much part of the recovery process.

"It is still a struggle now to come to terms with the loss of a loved one who did nothing wrong.”

The statistics also show nearly one in two drivers in Redbridge arrested on drink driving are never charged.

In 2008 there were 640 arrested but only 345 charged - also one of the highest rates in the capital.

Chief Insp Russell Taylor, of Redbridge Police, said: “Redbridge Police Officers spend a large portion of their duty time patrolling in vehicles and on foot patrol in an effort to reduce general crime, including vehicle crime.

“The stopping of vehicles believed to have been either used in crime, acquired as a result of crime or where construction and use offences are detected in relation to that vehicle's use does allow us to detect potential drink drive offences.

“In addition, based in Chadwell Heath is the combined MPS Traffic Garage and Territorial Support Group Base.

“Traffic and TSG officers are both pro-active in focusing on Drink Drive, in an effort to reduce death and serious injury on the roads, and vehicle crime.

“The situating of this facility means Redbridge benefits from a number of highly skilled specialist officers travelling through our borough when deploying elsewhere in the MPS and returning from such deployment.

“The above factors would promote an increase in the number of offences detected.”

A person is arrested on drink driving when they either test positive in a breath test, refuse to take one, or are judged by police to be unfit to drive.

If a driver is caught over the legal limit they face six months in prison, a fine of up to £5,000 and a minimum of 12 months' disqualification, for three years for a second offence within 10 years.

For more information about drink driving and support for victims, contact the Campaign Against Drink Driving (CADD) via cadd.org.uk or by calling 0845 123 5543.