Line of Duty star Vicky McClure joins West Midlands Police for a real life campaign

Vicky McClure

A Line of Duty star joined West Midlands Police as they worked to reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries on Birmingham roads.

The actress, who plays DI Kate Fleming on the BBC show, is also a dementia campaigner and visited the force to talk about dementia awareness yesterday (August 23). She was invited by West Midlands Police to join them while they police the roads of Birmingham for a nationwide drink and drug driving campaign, which is running until Sunday, August 27.

The operation is being supported by all police forces and coordinated by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC). Police are targeting drink and drug drivers as part of Operation Triton, the new road safety initiative which was launched earlier this month in Birmingham.

Actress Vicky McClure, 40, joined teams in Birmingham out on Op Triton tackling harm on our roads. West Midlands Police said: “Line of Duty’s DI Kate Fleming has been investigating WMP’s past as TV star Vicky McClure took a step back in time at our Police Museum today. The actress and dementia campaigner is with Chief Constable Craig Guildford talking about her work to help us all be more dementia aware.”

McClure, who married her partner film director Jonathan Owen, 52, earlier this month, were serenaded by the Our Dementia Choir, which the actress founded in 2019. She has been a dementia campaigner for several years and founded the choir after her late grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. McClure shared several photos from her wedding to longtime partner Owen on social media. The couple also appeared on a late-night BBC Radio Wales show hosted by Katie Owen - who is the Jonathan Owen’s daughter.

What West Midlands Police said about OpTriton

Chief Inspector Rebecca Barnsley, from Force Traffic and Central Motorway Policing Group, said: “We are committed to making our roads safer by targeting dangerous drivers, criminals and offenders.

“During this campaign, our focus remains on targeting motorists committing fatal four offences and enforcing the law around drink and drug driving.

“Combining drugs and alcohol, when you are behind the wheel, can be deadly. Drivers who have consumed both are 23 times more likely to be involved in a fatal collision than sober drivers. We will not hesitate to prosecute offenders who choose to put not only their lives, but the lives of other road users at risk.

“Let’s remember, the risk isn’t confined to illegal drugs alone. Certain prescription and over-the-counter medications can also impair driving abilities. We urge everyone to exercise caution by reading labels and consulting their doctor about potential side effects before taking the wheel.”