Police found to fill patrol cars up with wrong fuel 300 times in a year

Mistake cost more than £53,000 in repairs last year alone

Police found to fill patrol cars up with wrong fuel 300 times in a year
An AA spokesperson said more detective work at the pumps to ensure the right fuel goes in the right car.

Some 299 incidents of misfuelling were recorded last year, data obtained under Freedom of Information requests made by the Press Association has revealed.

Of the UK’s 45 police forces, 40 responded and 33 admitted paying out for repairs to a police vehicle after a misfuelling incident last year.

The average cost for repair was calculated at £178 a time.

West Midlands Police recorded the most incidents – 66, at a cost of £3,737.

The Met Police had 49 incidents, costing £17,589.57 in total to repair, while Police Scotland had 16, costing £2,004.92.

Detective work

AA president Edmund King said: “Perhaps we need a little more detective work at the pumps to ensure the right fuel goes in the right car.

“Until all police cars are electric we will probably still see mis-fuelling problems.”

John O’Connell, chief executive of pressure group the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “This careless attitude shows a lack of respect for those same taxpayers who pay their wages and are forced to pay for the repairs.

“Millions of people manage this task with their own cars by taking a modicum of care – police officers should extend the same courtesy to their vehicles.”

“It’s staggering that such a simple mistake is being made almost daily.”

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