Police 'crash sponsor' deal rejected

There are about 18,000 road crashes in Kent every year

A sponsorship scheme which would have seen police giving road crash victims details of a car hire firm has been thrown out.

Kent Police Authority voted on Wednesday by seven votes to six to reject the scheme which could have earned the county's force more than £100,000.

The decision came despite Kent Police chief constable giving the plan his approval.

The potential deal had already been criticised by the Automobile Association (AA), who said it looked like police were taking advantage of crash victims.

'Initially dubious'

Kent Police would have been given 9,000 "collision care packs" to hand to people involved in collisions in a six-month trial period.

In return the force would be given a car emblazoned with Helphire's company logo on and would receive £50 for every driver who hired a vehicle after being recommended by the police.

Chief constable Bob Ayling had said although he was initially dubious about the idea he had come to think it would be good in financial terms and for bringing order to crash scenes, due to the advice in the packs.

With almost 18,000 road traffic crashes in Kent during 2002, it was estimated the deal could have raised more than £100,000 a year for the force.

We are concerned about this relationship because it gives the appearance that police are taking advantage of motorists when they are at their most vulnerable

Michael Johnson, the AA

Kent Police has an annual budget of £233m and any money raised through sponsorship deals could help reduce the burden on council tax payers.

The force currently has five sponsored cars from a fleet of 873 and a small number of other sponsored items.

Speaking before the scheme was rejected, Michael Johnson of the AA said: "We are concerned about this relationship because it gives the appearance that police are taking advantage of motorists when they are at their most vulnerable, following an accident."

Kent Police said their officers would have been able to use their discretion over who to offer Helphire's details and say their priority at the scene of a crash would never have been to hand out the packs.

They also said the deal complied with Home Office guidelines and that no police cars would have had the hire firm's phone number on them.