Educate police on alcohol, says ex-officer

Police should go on a drink drive education course as attended by convicted drink drivers, a retired senior police officer said last week.

Martin Bowen (pictured), who retired as a chief inspector from Greater Manchester Police three years ago after 34 years service, is now a trainer for TTC 2000, the provider of drink drive education for convicted offenders. He says the drink drive education course run by TTC has 'opened his eyes'.

"I have learned far more about drink driving than I ever knew as a police officer and I believe that serving officers would benefit from this course," he said.

He added that as far as he is aware, there is no education for serving police officers on subjects including what is a unit of alcohol, how many units take a driver to the legal limit, absorption rates, differences in men/women's limits and medical information about alcohol consumption.

"This information would be useful to police officers when dealing with drink drivers and would allow them to perhaps explain to motorists in less legal jargon why they are over the limit. A more thorough understanding of the whole process would result in police officers having more confidence when dealing with drink drivers and enable them to speak from a position of knowledge," he concluded.

For further information contact TTC 2000 on (01952) 292246 or train@ttc-uk.com.