Up to 40 drivers accused of offences such as drink-driving, speeding or dangerous driving who have not cooperated with police will be arrested in dawn raids.

Those caught over the limit will be asked a series of questions to help police draw up an "offender profile" of who is most likely to drink and drive over Christmas.

As well as taking details of age, sex and residence, officers will quiz them on where they have been drinking, what they had to drink and how much.

The four-week crackdown, launched by Lothian and Borders police today, will also see drivers believed to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs stopped and tested with breathalysers and drug detecting "Failed Impairment Tests".

Up to 40 drivers who have previously been convicted for road traffic offences, but have failed to appear in court or pay fines, are to be visited at their homes by police officers carrying arrest warrants.

Superintendent Phil O'Kane, head of the force's traffic branch, said: "Anyone who has been convicted of drug or drink-driving offences and hasn't paid their fine or appeared in court will be targeted.

He said: "Every motorist who fails a breath test will have to answer questions from the officers which include how much they have had to drink, where they had been drinking and why they got behind the wheel of their vehicle.

"This is the first time we have carried out such a detailed survey and hope it will help us in future campaigns. If we can identify particular geographical areas or specific age groups where drink-driving is more prevalent we can target our resources."

The questionnaire would enable officers to pinpoint pubs or bars with a drink-driving problem, he added. "If we do identify a particular licensed premises with a problem, we can do follow-up work with our licensing officers and make the patrons aware of what is going on," he said.

"The party season has already started and statistics show that more drink-drivers are caught during the festive season weekends than at other times of the year.

"Our message is clear: if you have been drinking, do not drive. It is also advisable to be wary about driving the morning after as sometimes drivers can still be over the limit.

"If there is any doubt, take public transport or get someone who has not been drinking to drive. Our message to people is just not to do it - we are going to be out there on the roads doing everything we can to catch them."

Neil Greig of the AA motoring trust said: "This sounds like a really good approach. There is no doubt that the sort of person who gets caught speeding or driving without insurance is likely to be involved in drink-driving as well.

During last year's festive campaign, 130 drivers gave positive breath tests for alcohol in the Lothian and Borders area, and one was found to be driving under the influence of drugs.

From November 1, 2004 to October 31 this year there were 441 serious accidents on roads in the area, with three per cent caused by people driving under the influence of drink or drugs.

PUBS and clubs in Edinburgh's Grassmarket and Cowgate face having their hours cut back or being stripped of their licences in a crackdown on rowdy drunks.

They will be looking for bars which encourage binge drinking, routinely sell alcohol to under-18s or continue to serve customers when they are clearly the worse for wear.

Dossiers of shame will be compiled on pubs and clubs believed to be behind disorder. The most damning reports will be sent to the police and licensing chiefs for action to be taken. The city council has joined forces with the emergency services to create a taskforce - believed to be the first of its kind in Scotland - aimed at tackling problems with drunken louts in the city.

The council has initially recruited two new inspectors to visit pubs and clubs up until 3am. They will make undercover visits to venues to watch how customers and bar staff behave, before identifying themselves if they see problems. These two full-time members of the taskforce are expected to be joined by new recruits over the coming months as it branches out.

Other parts of the city centre including the increasingly busy George Street are expected to be among the next targets after the Grassmarket and Cowgate.

The scheme is a forerunner to the introduction in two years' time of licensing standards officers by local authorities under recently-approved new legislation.

Chief Superintendent Neil Richardson, of Lothian and Borders Police said: "This initiative is an excellent start and can only benefit our local communities, businesses and the visiting public."

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