Police expect drug-driving spike during World Cup

Police are expecting an increase in drug-driving offences in Essex to coincide with the England men's World Cup matches.

Essex Police has said drug-driving is an "epidemic" in the county.

Arrests for driving under the influence of cocaine and cannabis almost doubled from 971 in 2024, to 1,874 in 2025.

Adam Pipe, the head of roads policing at the force, said his teams had noticed more drivers taking ketamine and he pointed out the drug could be "cheaper to take on a Saturday night than a pint of beer".

He believes the problem needs public health intervention.

"We are not going to be able to arrest our way out of this problem," he said.

"We need to really wake up and acknowledge the risk that is now out there in terms of drug-driving and it's now beyond just cannabis or cocaine.

"We're now very much seeing the emergence of other drugs, both methadone, opioids and sadly ketamine."

He said the force "definitely" noticed an increase in offences around the times of England's World Cup games.

Loved ones and friends needed to have "challenging conversations" with drug users to "break the cycle" - Pipe said - even if it meant reporting them anonymously to Crimestoppers.

Before 19 July, there will be six large police deployments at popular night-time spots across Essex including in Southend-on-Sea, Chelmsford and Colchester.

On Friday, there were 13 arrests in Harlow. Four relating to drinking, and nine for drugs.

The challenge and the time it took to process suspects through the criminal justice system also meant it took too long to ban offenders from driving, Pipe explained.

He and colleagues at the Safer Essex Roads Partnership have launched the campaign "Back Your Team", encouraging people to report friends they suspect to be drink-driving during the World Cup tournament.

Social media influencer Simeone De Cesare, from Grays, said almost losing his dad to a suspected drink-driver "completely changed" the way he thought.

He said: "My dad suffered multiple broken bones, serious facial injuries and not to mention the trauma that affected our whole family for years afterwards.

"I am supporting this campaign, as too often, people stay quiet when they know a friend is making a dangerous decision.

Real mates look out for each other. If someone has been drinking, help them find another way home.

"It might feel awkward in the moment, but it could save a life."

Do you have a story suggestion for Essex? Contact us below.

Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.