Police officers used the wrong fuel 110 times in the past two years costing more than £20,000 in repairs.
Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show policemen filled some of the 715 diesel vehicles with petrol despite Essex Police fitting talking fuel caps to warn them not to, which reportedly cost a total of £4000.
Between 2009 and 2010 56 mistakes occured but Essex Police said the problem has decreased as there were 18 incidents between April and December last year which cost almost £4,000.
An Essex Police spokesman said: “We are constantly reminding staff about ensuring that they use the correct fuel, however our staff drive both petrol and diesel vehicles during the course of their work and unfortunately mistakes happen.
See this week's Braintree and Witham Times for the full story.
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