HAMPSHIRE Constabulary is trialling a Toyota Prius petrol-electric hybrid car to see if savings on fuel and reductions in emissions can be made without compromising operational efficiency.

The car, which will be fitted with the force's Tranman fleet management software, is to be maintained in-house, with Southampton-based dealer Marshall Rolfe carrying out any specialist repairs.

Fleet manager John Bradley said: 'We'll operate the Prius using IT data to look at things like fuel costs and CO2 readings and benchmark it against other models. We'll be building up a picture of the Prius in comparison to our current core fleet vehicles and will be able to monitor its environmental impact.'