Somerset Police apologise after saying all their officers were too busy on other calls to arrest drunk-driver
Fitness instructor Dale Bond followed a drunk-driver home after spotting her swerving in the road, but was left waiting for hours before police said they were not coming
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Police have said they will carry out a “full review” after a man who followed a drunk driver home was told officers could not attend the scene because they were "all committed" on other matters.
Dale Bond, 30, from Castle Cary in Somerset said he had trailed a suspected drink-driver home as she swerved in the road on 11 May.
He contacted Avon and Somerset Police to deal with the motorist.
But after waiting with her at her home in Shepton Mallet for two hours he was told officers were “all committed at the time” and would not been attending.
The force said they would review the case and admitted it fell below the “standards the public should expect from us”.
In footage filmed by Mr Bond he tells the driver he had been following her for miles and said: “You’re clearly drunk, aren’t you?”.
The woman is heard agreeing.
The fitness instructor said he later received an answerphone message from the police apologising for the failure.
The message said: "Apologies that we didn't get to you. I'm hoping that you're not still waiting for us at the location.
"Just to make you aware, we've passed on your observations for the vehicle - because we had a second call on this one as well - to all officers on this channel, on our district channel.
"Unfortunately they're all committed at the time of this log coming in. Thank you very much and apologies again."
Mr Bond told the BBC the was “furious” at their response.
He said: "They didn't turn up when they've got the easiest person... they could have possibly caught, and they didn't".
The force said they have now carried out house to house inquires to determine whether an offence was committed.
Area Commander, Chief Inspector Mark Edgington, said: "Firstly, I'd like to thank the member of the public for reporting their concerns to us.
"I'd like to assure him and the wider public that we'll be carrying out a full review into how we responded to the information given to us.
"Initial inquiries show officers were not dispatched to the scene for operational reasons, but we fully accept our response falls below the standards the public should expect from us.
"We've been in contact with the caller to obtain a full witness statement and inquiries are being carried out into whether any driving offences have been committed.
He said the force would still urge people to report any concerns or suspicions over drink-driving.