WILTSHIRE Constabulary started filling its diesel police cars with biodiesel last year in a bid to reduce emissions.

The constabulary operates a Devizes-based fleet of 350 vehicles and has a policy of replacing its vehicles with diesel wherever possible, so the number using biodiesel will keep rising.

Wiltshire police fleet manager Steve Botham said: ‘We are committed to improving the environmental performance of the force while maintaining and improving standards of service.

‘Moving to Greenergy Global Diesel allows us to take action to reduce our fleet’s emissions of carbon dioxide.’

Manufacturers claim that the fuel, which blends 5% of biodiesel with ultra-low sulphur diesel, reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 5% and particulates by 20%. Recent independent tests at Millbrook concluded that using GlobalDiesel resulted in a 1% improvement in fuel economy. (Fleet NewsNet, February 6).

Supermarket giant Tesco also completed a pilot of GlobalDiesel at its Hatfield store back in February 2003.

The group announced plans earlier this year to roll out the product to 22 stores followed by additional UK sites later this year (Fleet NewsNet, May 13).