Cost of fuel lands Essex Police with record bill

ESSEX Police is spending record amounts of money on fuel for patrol cars, figures reveal.

�2.56million was spent on fuel in 2010/11 compared to �2.3m in 2009/10. Figures for 2011/12 have not yet been published.

But the force - which has to cut �41m by 2014 - is confident the rises are solely linked to the growing cost at the pump rather than excessive journeys.

At the end of March, average pump prices surpassed previous highs set in May 2011 as oil prices lifted above last year’s peak.

A police spokesman said: “The rise in fuel costs is not a recent issue and the policing priorities of Essex are not changing as a result of increased costs.

“Fuel costs have again risen significantly in recent months, but the people of Essex can be assured that our emergency response operations and day-to-day routine policing will not be affected.”