West Midlands Police spends £8k fixing wrong fuel blunders

There were 124 incidents of police cars being filled with the wrong fuel type in the 2014/2015 financial year, and 79 across 2015/2016.

The figures were released in a Freedom of Information release that also revealed that West Midlands Police had spent more than £5.5 million on petrol across the same time period.

It cost the force £4,819 to repair the misfuelled cars in 2014/15 and £3,283 in 2015/16.

But these figures were dwarfed by the total cost the force spent refuelling its vehicles across each year, spending £3,014,176 in 2014/15 and £2,650,000 in 2015/16.

In another Freedom of Information release by West Midlands Police, it was revealed more than £180,000 was spent on allocating high-end vehicles to each police officer and staff making up the 'Chief Officer Group' since October 2013.

Seven cars made up that figure, which were four BMW 520s, one Audi A6 Estate, a Jaguar XF and a BMW 520 Touring car, which cost in total £182,934.08.

When asked if the vehicles are fitted with sirens and klaxons, the release said: 'Warranted officers' vehicles are equipped with emergency lighting and audible equipment. However, the vehicle belonging to the Director of Resources does not have this equipment.'

Gary Mallett, from the force's Fleet Management, said: "A subsidised car leasing scheme is currently available for senior officers and staff to apply for.

"The scheme was primarily set up for senior officers and staff who would have driven their own vehicles for company business and claimed the appropriate mileage rate.

"The organisation only pays a fraction of the lease cost with the employee paying the rest, they would also pay the normal tax and national insurance contributions that they are liable for.

"This reduced both cost from mileage claims and the corporate risk from officers using their own vehicles on company business."