The programme will produce 120 qualified drivers a year

Durham Police said incidents needing a police response reached 197,816 in the 12 months up to March 2004, more than 7,000 higher than the year before.

Senior officers believe the upward trend, which came as recorded crime fell, will continue.

The force is investing in a training programme that will produce 120 qualified drivers a year.

The force says while there are a record number of bobbies on the beat, not enough are authorised to drive police vehicles.

Action needed

Ch Supt Trevor Watson, head of the personnel and development department, said: "Many incidents require an immediate mobile response and we just don't have enough drivers who are qualified to get behind the wheel of an emergency vehicle.

"The shortfall could be aggravated by the predicted increase in calls."

Uniformed officers have to go through a training course and pass a 'standard' police driving test before they can respond to emergency calls in marked police vehicles fitted with blue lights and two-tone horns.

Under present training, around 80 officers a year successfully complete the course.

Mr Watson said: "Research has shown that in some stations only half the officers on duty are standard driver trained.

"This increases demand on a limited number of officers and action is needed now."