MORE convicted drink drivers are attending rehabilitation courses in Herefordshire than ever before, it has been revealed.

Over the past two years the figures for those attending a TTC 2000 (Telford Training Consultants) course, the leading provider of alcohol awareness courses in England and Wales, have more than doubled nationally.

In West Mercia, which covers Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, the numbers are up from 607 in 2000 to 700 last year. A total of 112 attended in Herefordshire in 2002. A total of 89 attended courses in Hereford last year (the same as in 2001) and 23 in Leominster, a newly introduced course area.

But TTC 2000 director Graham Wynn, a former magistrate, said this did not necessarily mean that more people were drinking and driving.

"Magistrates are now sending more convicted drivers onto an alcohol awareness course and places are being taken up by people who are more aware about the educational benefits of the course, including the fact that they can get up to 25 per cent off their driving ban if they complete the course successfully."

Reduction

"Not everyone who is referred onto the course actually attends because of a variety of reasons. They miss out on an interesting, educational and stimulating course which does result in better insurance and a reduction in their ban," said Mr Wynn.

In West Mercia, the number of women attending courses was 95 last year compared to 93 in 2001. Last year there were 15 women on the course at Hereford compared to 10 in 2001. In Leominster four out of the 23 taking part were women.

A total of 18.25 per cent of course participants were arrested for drink driving the following day "showing a gap in their alcohol knowledge" and the length of time it stays in the body, said Mr Wynn.

Offenders, who pay £150 to attend the course, are two and a half times less likely to re-offend. They learn about alcohol strengths, the effect of mixing drink and drugs, health implications, the law, courts and sentencing, responsible driving, and about the effect of drink-driving on victims.

The scheme has proved so successful that TTC 2000, a not for profit organisation, is now introducing corporate training courses in the workplace in Herefordshire as part of an aim to change people's attitude to drink driving before they offend.