Scottish officers have crashed hundreds of police vehicles into walls, tree branches and parked cars, causing hundreds of thousands of pounds of damage and potential car insurance claims.
Only a small number of the hundreds of collisions since 2008 occurred while police officers were responding to 999 calls and forces across Scotland said few officers have been suspended, fined or even reprimanded.
One officer who was reversing a vehicle in Inverness in July 2008 caused £229 of damage by hitting an overhanging branch, Northern Constabulary said.
In August 2008 another officer hit a barrier in Inverness, causing a repair bill of £404, and in March this year a car was a "write-off" after leaving the A9 on a bend.
Forces were asked how many vehicles had been damaged in collisions that have not involved other vehicles or other persons since January 2008 and how much the repairs cost.
Strathclyde Police - Scotland's biggest force - said 1,216 police vehicles were damaged by officers in collisions that did not involve other vehicles or other people between January 1, 2008, and January 25 this year. The repairs cost £721,715.48.
The main cause for damage to the police vehicles was noted as "collision with an object" and 44 had their blue lights on at the time.
Tayside Police said "reversing incidents" was the most common reason given for 133 collisions which didn't involve another vehicle or person between January 1, 2008, and to January 23 this year.
