POLICE fleets are moving away from diesel and into 'green' fuelled vehicles as the financial and community benefits of the switch become more clear. Humberside Police Authority, for example, has announced that it will be converting its 460-vehicle fleet to liquefied petroleum gas over the next five years, following extensive trials of LPG vehicles on its fleet.

Alan Hocking, fleet and supplies officer for Humberside police, said: 'The cost of the fuel versus petrol and diesel makes LPG a very attractive proposition, particularly after the last Budget. The investment is not purely financial, however. Looking to the future, it is anticipated that all vehicles, certainly those operating in city centres, will have to comply to increasingly stringent pollution levels. We are investing in that future now.'

Under the scheme, when vehicles are replaced, the force will buy bi-fuel cars, running on unleaded petrol and LPG supplied by Shell Gas. The programme will cover all Humberside Police beat cars and vans and involve the removal of all diesels from its fleet. Traffic cars, which need space for heavy equipment, are not yet planned for conversion, although discussions are continuing.