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The Essex police force is to fit its fleet of patrol cars with talking devices that give an audible reminder intended to prevent filling diesel vehicles with petrol.

Essex officers have filled up with the wrong fuel 222 times over the last five years, resulting in a total repair bill of £42,000.

The device is activated by light when the fuel filler cap is opened, and repeats a recorded message stating ‘this is a diesel vehicle’ until turned off.

The number of private owne...Read the full article

Autocar:

Essex officers have filled up with the wrong fuel 222 times over the last five years

I'm not saying anything!!

"Now officer, proceed in a westerly direction towards the fuel dispensing equipment..."

put plod back on his size 11s pounding the beat or on his push bike with whistle and then the council tax payer won't have to concern himself with an overpaid public servant treating public property without due respect and having to fork out several hundred pounds each time to have it repaired.

Did you know by the way that over the weekend thousands of Spanish policeman protested about their pay, by which it was reported that a Spanish police constable equivalent is paid between €16-18,000. You wouldn't get half a PCSO for that in Great Britain.

horseandcart:

put plod back on his size 11s pounding the beat or on his push bike with whistle and then the council tax payer won't have to concern himself with an overpaid public servant treating public property without due respect and having to fork out several hundred pounds each time to have it repaired.

Did you know by the way that over the weekend thousands of Spanish policeman protested about their pay, by which it was reported that a Spanish police constable equivalent is paid between €16-18,000. You wouldn't get half a PCSO for that in Great Britain.

I must be getting old. The Daily Mail readers are looking younger.

horseandcart:

by which it was reported that a Spanish police constable equivalent is paid between €16-18,000. You wouldn't get half a PCSO for that in Great Britain.

Have you got any idea at all before you spout nonsense? I respectfully suggest you spend 30 seconds searching online for the starting salary for the police (it's more than £16k, but less than £32k if that helps you). It all smacks of a non-story, but is an interesting indication of the ways things have gone in petrol vs diesel race and the legacy of petrol dominance in people's minds (filling one with the other)

theonlydt:

I respectfully suggest you spend 30 seconds searching online for the starting salary for the police (it's more than £16k, but less than £32k if that helps you).

Your eyesight's not good. It was euros quoted not pounds. And secondly the story of the protesting Spanish coppers stated the wage of a PC equivalent, not a cadet or probationer or whatever it is these days the pc PCs call themselves when they start training. Are you really trying to suggest that a Metropolitan PC(the striking Spanish cops were in Madrid, capitol to capitol comparison), qualified, with a least a few years service, is on less than £25K/€32K p.a. including allowances in London? Do me a favour.

You're sidetracking from the point. Forty grand plus has been wasted by one county force due to neglect, which has to be coughed up by the council tax payer. If the negligent officer was made to pay for the repair through docked wages - as many a private firm management would do - that I'm sure would drastically cut the incidence.

theonlydt:

but is an interesting indication of the ways things have gone in petrol vs diesel race and the legacy of petrol dominance in people's minds (filling one with the other)

 

My Girlfriend recently put petrol in her diesel, please can someone correct me if I am wrong, but I was under the impression that you can't put diesel in a petrol as the nozzle is bigger on the diesel pump?? Ironic, as that is fixable, where as,petrol in diesel can be fatal, Why did they not design them with different shaped nozzles, instead of different sizes?

http://www.ford.co.uk/Cars/Technology/FordComfortandConvenience/CaplessRefuellingSystem

Filled my Cortina 1.6L up with diesel years ago - it went for a bit then spluttered to a halt....once the thing was drained and had new fuel in it went like a bl00dy rocket.....I remember my pal's new Rover 420 GSi was blown away by it. Always wondered why it got such a boost - maybe because it was all cleaned out I guess?

These days it would probably be a grand down the dealer to get sorted - I miss simple cars!

I live on a one way road and a police car came up it the other day proceeding in the wrong direction. I was chatting to my neighbour when he stopped and got out. I pointed out to him that this was a one way road and he was going the wrong way but he was rather dismissive telling me not to worry about it and to mind my own business.........no blues and twos and certainly not in a hurry to do anything law enforcementy.........

Very tempted to complain..........I bet I get pulled every day for 6 months if I do though.