Uniting against drink-driving

Dunedin police breath-test drivers near the Oval last night at one of several road checkpoints set up for the Christmas season.

The increased focus on alcohol-related crime is part of Operation Unite, an annual transtasman campaign.

Police officers throughout New Zealand and Australia focus on alcohol problems simultaneously over the course of a weekend.

Initiatives include more foot and vehicle patrols to quell drunken disorder, road checkpoints to target drink-driving, compliance checks on licensed premises and enforcement of liquor bans in public places.

The campaign began at 6pm yesterday.