DAMAGE TO police vehicles in Tayside in the past two years has racked up a bill of over £140,000.
More than £27,000 damage was caused by officers crashing their cars while reversing.
They were included in a list of over 600 accidents that have left Tayside Police vehicles damaged and cost taxpayers thousands in repair bills.
The shock figures were released following a freedom of information request by The Courier.
There were 300 accidents last year and 298 in 2009/10.
They included reversing into another vehicle, reversing into objects in the station yard, striking the kerb, misjudging a clearance distance, not applying the handbrake and putting in the wrong fuel.
Others included going through a red light, malicious damage and striking an animal on the road.
In 2009/10 the bill was over £72,000. It included £741 for using the wrong fuel.
Last year the bill for 300 accidents was £68,104giving a £140,000 total in two years.
Charlotte Linacre, campaign manager at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said, “Bumbling bobbies are bashing up far too many police cars through foolish errors.
“Taxpayers don’t want to pick up the tab for completely avoidable damage.”
A force spokeswoman said, “All police officers and police staff authorised to drive police vehicles are insured by the force and are assessed before being allowed to do so.
“We will always investigate any collision or damage caused to any Tayside Police vehicles with the intention of identifying training needs, bringing offenders to justice and in some cases seeking compensation.”
She added, “The very nature of police work means that officers are frequently responding to emergency situations, frequently have to carry hostile passengers and often have to attend operational incidents where there is a greater risk of damage being caused to a vehicle.”