Four people have been arrested on suspicion of drink driving since a Christmas campaign started on December 1.

Now, anyone caught drink-driving in north Kent and Medway faces having their case heard in the virtual court at North Kent Police Station.

It means punishment could be meted out within hours of being arrested and their licence taken away the same day.

People arrested and then charged are usually bailed for 15 days, to appear at a local magistrates’ court.

But if they are dealt with by the virtual court, which links North Kent Police Station with Medway Magistrates’ Court, they could be off the road within 24 hours.

If it’s their first offence, they will be disqualified from driving for a minimum of 12 months, which could be increased, depending on the level of the reading.

If a person is charged with a second drink-driving offence within 10 years, they are given a more extensive ban – a minimum of three years.

The first cases included one of a 60-year-old from Gravesend charged with being drunk in charge of a mobility scooter.

The legal limit is 35mg of alcohol to 100ml of breath.