A shocking report linking deaths on the roads and serial drink-drivers has prompted calls for tougher sentences for repeat offenders.

Two thirds of fatal car crashes where alcohol is a factor involve drivers who have already been convicted of drink-driving, according to an internal Sussex Police review.

Superintendent Paul Morrison of the force's road policing unit says automatic jail terms are needed to deter motorists from driving drunk.

At the moment people who are caught driving under the influence receive up to six months in prison or a fine of up to £5,000. Supt Morrison said the courts should have the power to give longer sentences to people with a previous drinkdriving or dangerous driving conviction.

He said: "The police can catch people, but the courts need to deal with them robustly.

"We are asking, if you get caught out for a second drink-driving offence, should you have a tougher sentence or a mandatory jail term?"

The Argus can reveal the results of a police review of 137 crashes where people were killed or seriously injured between 2005 and 2006.

A fifth of drivers involved had previous road traffic convictions, nearly a third of those for drinkdriving.

Of fatal accidents where one or more of the parties had used drink or drugs, 63% involved a driver with a previous drink-driving conviction.

Supt Morrison said a hardcore of drink-drivers do not appreciate the risks they are running and the possible impact they could have on other people's lives.

He added: "They have much greater chance of being involved in a fatal accident."

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice said that sentencing is a matter for the courts.

A nationwide campaign was launched this week to highlight the impact of drink-driving. Sussex police will be carrying out a number of operations in June.

Chief Constable Steve Green, the Association of Chief Police Officers' head of road policing, said: "We will be aggressively targeting people who continue to put road users in danger."

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