MISTAKES by police officers behind-the-wheel damaged 22 police vehicles in south Worcestershire last year – almost half the total number of cars and vans requiring special repairs.

Forty per cent of the 55 vehicles damaged were a result of “police officer driver error” but force bosses have described accidents as “inevitable” considering the scale of their operations.

The figures, which relate to West Mercia Police’s south Worcestershire territorial policing unit between October 2013 and September this year, have been released in response to a freedom of information request submitted by your Worcester News.

Repair fees for all of the damaged vehicles burnt a £46,490 dent into the policing budget, with seasonal variations appearing to have had an impact on the frequency and value of the damage suffered.

From April to September only 25 vehicles were harmed at a cost of £13,564 but from October 2013 to March this year 30 vehicles suffered damage to the value of £32,926.

West Mercia Police have also disclosed a list of the types of accidents that have occurred over the past year, which range from the ordinary to the slightly more bizarre.

Police vehicles were damaged by hitting an animal, colliding with an object in the road, flooding and crashing into another car, as well as during routine driving manoeuvres such as reversing, using a roundabout and passing other motorists.

Some incidents were caused by tackling criminal activity such as stopping offenders' vehicles.

Dave Newbold, head of transport services at West Mercia Police, said: “Unfortunately accidents are inevitable, taking into consideration the number of vehicles we operate and the scale of the areas that we cover.

“The majority of incidents that occur are minor but historically we have had a number of vehicles that have been classed as write-offs.

“Over the last 12 months this figure has significantly reduced."