Surrey and Sussex Police have launched their 2018 Christmas crackdown on drink and drug drivers.  

A number of officers are committed to the campaign which began on Saturday and continues until the 1st January.  Details of those convicted including their name, age, address and occupation will be published online. This is in line with previous campaigns to deter people from getting behind the wheel whilst under the influence of drink or drugs.  The consequences of driving under the influence of drink or drugs could include a minimum 12 month ban, a prison sentence, an unlimited fine and a criminal record.

Chief Inspector Andy Gooch of Surrey and Sussex Roads Policing Unit asked drivers to be mindful of the amount of time it takes for substances to leave their body. Drivers can still be over the limit the next morning.  The Sussex Safer Roads Partnership has a morning after calculator on its website where drivers can find out roughly how long it is safe before they can drive.

Sam Gyimah, the MP for East Surrey, resigned as Science and Universities Minister on Friday.  

He quit after Theresa May said the UK was pulling out of the EU’s Galileo satellite navigation system.  The UK wanted to remain part of it but the EU said that as a result of Brexit, it would be banned from extra secure elements of the project such as the part of the system intended for use by government agencies, the armed forces and emergency responders.  The UK has invested £1.24 billion in the project. Galileo is the EU’s version of the US’s GPS and will be used by EU governments, citizens, the military and industry and is due to come online in 2020.

Sam Gyimah is the 10th member of the government to resign over Theresa May’s Brexit deal.  

Physiotherapists at Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust are supporting a new falls prevention campaign which targets older people over the winter period.  

The Trust which runs Crawley Hospital supports the #NeverTooLate campaign launched by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists. Their new festive video shows the emotional journey of a patient who suffered a fall, getting back to doing what they love through exercise and awareness.  Sheila Doughty, Professional Lead for Physiotherapy at Sussex Community said that being active can have enormous benefits to health and well-being.  She recommends 10 minutes of brisk activity a day building up to 150 minutes over a week.  Sussex Community operates a Falls and Fracture prevention service in West Sussex made up of physiotherapists, occupational therapists and technicians who help to reduce hospital admissions as a result of falls.

The team is spreading the message of falls prevention on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #NeverTooLate.