3 Apr 2016

Pursuits cost police in damaged vehicles

6:12 am on 3 April 2016

The police spent more than $1.8 million over the past five years repairing vehicles damaged in pursuits.

Police car at a check point in Mana, Wellington.

Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson

Figures released to RNZ News under the Official Information Act reveal 505 police vehicles were damaged in active pursuits between 2011 and 2015.

At 31 March 2016, there were more than 3142 vehicles in the police fleet.

The highest number of vehicles damaged in pursuits over the five-year period were in the Canterbury (65 cars), Counties Manukau (65) and Waitemata (61) districts.

The worst year for damage was 2014, with $491,906.87 spent on repairs.

The year with the least spent nationally on repairing vehicles damaged in pursuits was 2011, at $303,530.62.

In total, $1,842,681.58 was spent between 2011 and 2015.

No police vehicles were replaced in the five-year period due to damage from an active pursuit.

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