Police have credited improved training for a dramatic fall in the number of their vehicles involved in crashes.

Figures show in the Airedale and North Bradford division, which includes Keighley, accidents involving police cars have dropped by more than half in three years.

In the 2009-10 financial year, there were 163 crashes – which also include incidents of criminal damage to vehicles. Last year, the number had fallen to 71.

And the drop is mirrored across West Yorkshire. In the past financial year, there were 638 cases of police cars being damaged due to crashes and criminal damage throughout the county – almost 100 fewer than in the previous year and 437 less than in 2009/10.

Figures – revealed following a Freedom of Information request to West Yorkshire Police – include ‘found damage’ to cars, blameworthy and non-blameworthy collisions, minor damage and windscreen replacements.

Chief Inspector Mark Bownass said: “We have continued to improve upon the training measures provided to officers during the past two years, and this approach has enabled us to bring about a significant reduction in the number of collisions involving police vehicles.

“Where appropriate, we look to re-train officers and share this learning force-wide via daily briefings and internal updates.”