THE number of drug driving arrests made as part of an annual police crackdown have almost tripled in two years, new figures have revealed.

Hampshire Police say they made 74 drug driving arrests over the most recent Christmas period, as part of their annual campaign Operation Holly.

That's three times more than the 24 arrests made in 2016.

The figures also show a small rise in the number of drink driving arrests across Hampshire, with police making 201 arrests throughout December.

Police chiefs say it is "disappointing" that drivers are still taking risks and accused offending drivers of "being complacent about the realities of road deaths and serious injuries."

Operation Holly was a month long joint crackdown between Hampshire and Thames Valley police forces.

In total, more than 4,200 breath tests were carried out across the two areas between December 1, 2018, and January 1, 2019.

More than 280 drivers were tested for drugs, of which half had a positive result.

In total, 666 impaired drivers were arrested across the two force areas.

Of those, 275 were arrested for drink and drug driving offences were in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.