Hundreds of people have been arrested for drink and drug driving in the first 12 months of Cumbria's roads policing unit (RPU). 

Figures released by Cumbria Police have shown the impact that the RPU has had on the county's roads within its first year with 72 per cent of arrests made being for drink and drug driving. 

Of the 378 total arrests, 273 of those were drink and drug driver arrests.

The RPU, set-up last October, proactively seeks out crime on the roads to act against it more effectively. The team includes detectives, safety camera van operators, and road crime officers.

Inspector Jack Stabler, who leads Cumbria Police’s roads policing unit, said: "When we launched the RPU 12 months ago the vision was for our officers to take the lead on making our county's roads safer through targeted enforcement.

"I'm pleased to be able to report this is taking place and drivers who put their own lives and the lives of all other road users at risk are being stopped and, often, taken off the road.

"The RPU is committed to continuing to work with our partners on the county's Road Safety Partnership to make Cumbria's roads even safer as we seek to drive down the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads."

More than 1,000 traffic offence reports have been issued, 449 road traffic collisions have been investigated, and officers have attended more than 3,000 immediate urgency emergency incidents in the past year. 

228 of the traffic offences reports issued were for speeding offences, 190 were for mobile phone and distracted driving offences, and 111 were no insurance offences. 

Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, David Allen, said: "Keeping Cumbria’s roads safe is a priority. The Roads Policing Unit have done a brilliant job at reducing road incidents over the last year and arresting those who are breaking the law.

"Road Safety is everyone’s responsibility. Driving dangerously not only places the life of the driver at risk but the lives of innocent passengers and other road users – drive within the laws and to the conditions of our roads.

"If you do break the law behind the wheel – you will be caught and you will face the consequences of your actions."