More than 1,000 roadside breath tests carried out by Devon and Cornwall Police have resulted in positive readings since April last year, new figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show.

The force conducted 11,417 roadside breath tests between April 2025 and June 2026, with 1,409 producing a positive reading indicating the driver was over the legal alcohol limit.

The figures were obtained through an FOI request and cover roadside tests recorded using Lion 500B breath-testing devices.

The highest number of tests in a single month was recorded in December 2025, when 1,053 roadside breath tests were carried out.

Of those, 99 produced a positive reading.

May 2025 saw the highest number of positive readings during the period, with 126 of 835 roadside tests returning a positive result.

In April 2025, 118 of 757 tests were positive, while June saw 105 positive readings from 782 tests.

Across the remainder of 2025, positive readings ranged from 89 in September to 111 in July.

The figures for 2026 show a lower number of roadside tests being conducted, with 403 carried out in June.

There were 33 positive readings during the month.

January saw 839 tests and 93 positive readings, while February recorded 612 tests with 83 positive readings.

In March, 727 tests were conducted, with 93 returning positive results.

April saw 632 tests and 70 positive readings, followed by 625 tests and 81 positive readings in May.

Overall, roughly around one in eight roadside breath tests recorded during the period resulted in a positive reading.

The figures do not necessarily represent the number of drivers ultimately convicted of drink-driving, as a positive roadside screening test can be followed by further testing and enforcement action.

Devon and Cornwall Police said the data was subject to late submissions.

The information covers tests carried out in "Road" mode and includes tests recorded as Fail, Pass, Warn and Zero.