Forces count cost of careless cops

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Scottish polices forces have paid through the nose for repairs to vehicles because of crashes with other cars, walls and tree branches.

Of those accidents not involving other vehicles, Strathclyde Police - the country's biggest force - said it had paid £721,000 for damage to 1,216 vehicles between January 1, 2008, and January 25 this year.

Of the stranger cases, Northern Constabulary revealed that one officer had caused £229 of damage by hitting a branch when reversing, while another had crashed into a barrier in Inverness, landing the police with a £404 repair bill.

The main cause for damage to the police vehicles was noted as "collision with an object" and 44 had their blue lights on at the time.

Tayside Police said "reversing incidents" was the most common reason given for 133 collisions which didn't involve another vehicle or person between January 1, 2008, and to January 23 this year.

Copyright © Press Association 2010

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