Damage to West Yorkshire Police vehicles cost taxpayer almost £400,000 last year, figures show

Police vehicles can be damaged as a result of crashes, as well attacks of vandalism from members of the public. In September last year, a crime scene investigation van was set on fire in Leeds while officers attended a scene following reports of criminal damage. Officers were also attacked by a group of youths throwing bricks.

West Yorkshire Police had 50 of its vehicle fleet written off in the financial year 2019/20, with their combined pre-accident value standing at £295,137.

Among these was a BMW X5, which was the most expensive vehicle to be written off.

Of the 50 marked and unmarked vehicles written off, 23 were already due for replacement. This means 27 police vehicles of the 50 written off needed to be replaced when they otherwise would not have needed to, amounting to a bill of £385,000.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said that there were occasionally circumstances where damage was inevitably incurred while carrying out duties to protect the public, which would always be its highest priority.

He said: “We have officers specially trained to use their vehicles to stop other vehicles safely, using tactics approved by the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

“Every contact with another vehicle in these circumstances is reviewed to make sure that the officer involved has used these tactics appropriately. Our pursuit vehicles are also fitted with cameras so collisions which occur during a pursuit can be scrutinised afterwards.

“The cost of replacing police vehicles also includes damage caused by police officers and PCSOs in the course of their duties, which do not involve pursuits.”

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