A SCHEME to cut the cost of police driving accidents and raise driving standards in the force is about to be launched.

Under the scheme, by Durham Constabulary, due to start next month, selected vehicles will be fitted with black box data recorders and reversing sensors, while staff with poor accident records will face driving bans.

It follows research by a working group chaired by Chief Superintendent Eric Irwin, which has spent a year looking at staff's involvement in accidents while on duty.

He said responsible drivers had nothing to fear from the measures.

"We are not out to punish front-line officers who have a difficult enough job to do," he said.

"Under the force's insurance policy, we pay the first £1,000 of any repair bill.

"Because of that, the financial burden is a considerable one."

Under the new scheme, even officers driving with blue flashing lights will be encouraged to think of safety first.

Drivers will be awarded penalty points for "blameworthy" accidents and breaches of force policy, and those attaining three within 24 months will be suspended and ordered to re-sit their driving test or undertake remedial action.

This will supplement the force's existing policy of immediately banning drivers responsible for serious accidents.

Reversing sensors will be fitted to police vehicles in early November, and as part of a pilot scheme, a dozen panda cars in Darlington will be equipped with black box recorders.

Costing between £300 and £600 each, they will capture information immediately before and after collisions, of a high enough standard to be used as evidence.