Drink-drive hotline pays just 2

More than 500 people responded to a controversial Christmas anti-drink-driving campaign, in which police offered the public cash rewards to shop culprits.

Despite the flood of calls to a special hotline - more than four times the normal seasonal rate - the full impact of the initiative has yet to emerge. Five people have been arrested and charged so far, but many further charges are expected in the Thames Valley area by the end of the month.

Any concerns over the likelihood of a spate of large cheques being handed out by police have proved unfounded. Police said only two informants of the 66 who called the hotline with "positive" information had come forward to claim their rewards, and they were paid just £25 each. The remainder either did not get their facts right when they reported neighbours' Christmas party excesses, or simply were not interested in the money.

It was originally reported that, under the scheme, callers to the Crimestoppers line could earn as much as £500 for a tip-off leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of an offender. Thames Valley police chief constable, Sir Charles Pollard, replied immediately to widespread criticism and claimed his force had never intended to issue rewards on such a scale to drink-driving case informants.

Roy Trustram Eve, chairman of Thames Valley Crimestoppers, said: "The fact is that people are not motivated by rewards but by common sense."

Police were embarrassed by the publicity the idea generated at the beginning of December, worried that it may be criticised. But the coverage has now been praised following the unprecedented response by the public.