EXCLUSIVE

by Ross Lidbetter

ross.lidbetter@essnmedia.co.uk

The number of police crashes in Croydon has dropped slightly over the past 12 months.

Figures for the last three years have been obtained by the Advertiser under the Freedom of Information Act.

It shows in 2008 there were 125 collisions involving a police vehicle, 11 down on the previous year.

Out of this number police were responsible for 50 of the accidents - nearly one a week.

A total of 90 of the crashes happened while the police were NOT on an emergency 999 call.

The 125 collisions left 36 people injured.

Describing the latest figures, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: "Croydon police covered more than one million miles while performing their duties to ensure the safety of all those who live and work in the borough.

"Despite the relatively low number of incidents we take the matter of improving the quality of driving by officers very seriously."

Police say training and equipment is reviewed constantly to ensure this happens.

The spokesman continued: "These measures have seen a decrease since 2006/07 and we are on target for a significant reduction for our (next set of) figures as well as recording an improvement on emergency response times."

There were 136 collisions in both 2006 and 2007, with police responsible for 55 crashes in each year of those years.

The spokesman for the Met added: "It should also be noted that the figures include a wide range of incidents from bumps while parking to serious personal injury accidents.

"While any incident involving the police where a member of the public is injured is regrettable, thankfully these type of collisions are in the minority - normally accounting for around 15 per cent of all collisions."

The statistics are understood to include a dramatic police chase through Croydon which caused three separate crashes in October last year.

Four people were injured in the first smash when an armed response vehicle collided with a sliver VW Golf in London Road, Thornton Heath.

Although officers weren't involved in the second smash, the chase ended when a police car rammed into the pursued car's side in Selsdon Road, South Croydon.