Police crash vehicles up to 238 times within own station parking (UPDATE)
ACCIDENT-PRONE police drivers have been involved in hundreds of crashes – without even leaving their own car parks.
Figures obtained by The Sentinel show officers in Staffordshire and Cheshire reported up to 238 accidents involving vehicles in their police station car parks between April, 2008 and December, 2010.
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They reveal Staffordshire Police recorded 147 accidents and Cheshire Police dealt with 91 crashes over the same period.
The incidents included:
A police vehicle crashing into a post causing £2,149 damage;
A police vehicle crashing into a wall causing £1,450 damage;
A police vehicle hitting a car park height restriction barrier causing £1,069 damage;
A police vehicle reversing into a car causing £1,192 damage.
The combined estimated damage for the forces is £115,784, though the final figures may be adjusted by insurers.
Staffordshire's £83,902 estimate included injuries or damage to vehicles or property within the car parks, as well as 32 more accidents which involved slips, trips and falls.
Now some officers have been told to improve their driving standards. Police station crashes have fallen from 71 in 2007/08 to 50 in 2009/10.
A report to Staffordshire Police Authority states: "Accidents within police stations remain an issue. Police divisions have been charged with monitoring driving standards and have been profiling individual officers to improve standards of behaviour and to ensure that training was put in place."
Staffordshire Police have lost 65 police officers and 155 police staff in the past year as they battle a £6.7 million cut in their £190 million budget.
A spokesman said: "The number of accidents in police station car parks has fallen gradually in the last three years.
"The force has a fleet of more than 550 vehicles, which covered almost 9.5 million miles last year."
Cheshire Police are preparing to lose 213 police officers and 446 staff over the next four years as they make £36.5 million cuts.
"The force's 638 vehicles covered 12 million miles last year.
A Cheshire Police spokesman said: "We have 34 car parks at police stations and sub-stations and they are busy. When vehicles are damaged, repairs are carried out as economically as possible."
What do you think?
114 Comments
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by Tonyjohnt, Hanley
Monday, February 07 2011, 2:40PM
“anon, stoke-on-trent - crime is down 20% according to which figures? 20% equates to a fifth in old money, doesn't it? That's utopia!
We've arrived people! Less than 12 months on their watch and Dave & Nick have delivered the Promised Land!
You deal with some of these low lifes day in and day out - then let's see what high regard you have for them. Have you noticed some of us have very little dealings with the police? Why's that then?”
by anon, stoke-on-trent
Sunday, February 06 2011, 6:26PM
“What I was trying say Warren living in those areas the police refer to you like me has "people like that", we make them heave. Though some from these areas have been paid in freemans so they say for helping police, I have heard from women if these people do get paid they will sue for compo, has they have used people that others don't like.”
by anon, stoke-on-trent
Sunday, February 06 2011, 6:13PM
“Warren born & bred in Blurton, lives in Meir never commited a crime, makes you think. Like I said a waste of taxpayers money, I have had cars drive at me, swerve at me, try force me off the road, still manage to park my car. If I did slip trip on the way in work I wouldn't expect compo has I would think I should watch where I was walking. Its some of the ex cops etc. that bang on about people claiming compo when we now know these are the first in the queue, for a payout. Not to mention 1 in 9 off sick usually with stress. Never mind the cops can always con the general public into doing their jobs for nothing, we have seen you if not experienced it. With crime down 20% according to the figures then a few job loses easy, plenty civilians will do it for nothing.”
by Tonyjohnt, Hanley
Sunday, February 06 2011, 4:26PM
“He's awake!
Does the fact that, through our taxes, we pay for cop cars and due to constant use they occasionally damage them matter?
He's gone back asleep... stand down!”
by Ben, STOKE
Sunday, February 06 2011, 3:33PM
“Tonyjohnt,
its a bit rich calling me childish,
and your playing your little pc game?
you a big pc warrior.
and talking of harder harder is that what you shout at Warren.”
by Tonyjohnt, Hanley
Sunday, February 06 2011, 1:26PM
“He's right though Ben - you are childish.
Remember what this thread was originally about? Go on... focus... harder... harder... no - we've lost him!
Back to Call of Duty.”
by Ben, STOKE
Sunday, February 06 2011, 1:03PM
“Just a thought Warren?
walking stick mate?
your not one of those pretend incapacity benefit scroungers are you dude”
by Tonyjohnt, Hanley
Sunday, February 06 2011, 1:02PM
“No gold stars for living within the law Warren, it's kind of expected of you.
The "t" in Johnson is silent, as in cre'in or idio'... back to Call of Duty.”
by Warren, Meir
Sunday, February 06 2011, 10:12AM
“You have to admit it Tony, the last poster as a point. By the way I call myself Warren as my name is Warren. I'm in full surport of the police, as I think they do a bang on job getting scum off the streets, but let down at times by the justace system and the CPS. They have also never bothered me, as I live my life within the law, I know some my find the boreing, I don't. I have a go at Ben becouse I think he should grow up. He can make some very childlike statements on this site.”
by nonplussed and perplexed, Just about to turn in.
Saturday, February 05 2011, 11:45PM
“I call myself Tonyjohnt because my name is Tony Johnson, hope that's not too difficult bud.
Tonyjohnt, Hanley
er, not really I suppose. Er, but, and you don't mind me asking -with all due respect of course ...but there's no 't' in Johnson. At least I can't find it, and I've looked and looked and looked.”