If Police drivers involved in accidents are found to have broken the law or force policy "the appropriate action will be taken against those responsible'', a Police spokeswoman pledged yesterday.

And she said that a review of driver training policy will take place and recommendations made about future instruction and development.

Recommendations already on the table include continuing to alert the public to driving training exercises and starting a public awareness campaign on the proper public response to blue-light incidents.

The spokeswoman added: "We would like to emphasise that it is not our intention to put either members of the public or our own officers at risk and we will endeavour to ensure that policy continues.'' She was speaking after a Police Driving School instructor and a motorcycle officer were both involved in collisions with civilian drivers on Thursday.

Both the marked Police car and the powerful 750cc Honda bike were badly damaged in the double whammy.

The twin traffic tangle follows a series of smashes late last year which wrote off five patrol cars in a four-week period.

The Police spokeswoman said: "We would like to express to the public our regrets and concern over the recent accidents involving Police vehicles.

"The Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner have given their assurances that they are committed to ensuring compliance with policies that were put in place to reduce such incidents.'' The spokeswoman said the force was thankful that no-one was seriously injured in the two latest crashes.

But she added that the Police are an emergency service and required training in high-speed driving for life-threatening situations, serious crime and traffic violation pursuits.

It is understood the patrol car was practising high-speed pursuit techniques with another Police Driving School vehicle when the Thursday afternoon accident happened.

The spokeswoman said: "Drivers need to be trained to respond to such emergencies and they must be trained at a high level.

"Advanced driving training requires that drivers are exposed to a variety of road and traffic conditions during the day and night and it requires them to travel in excess of the speed limit.

"Prompt reaction by Police vehicles in pursuit of traffic offenders is required, and this entails high speed.'' She said current guidelines for motorcycle cops insist they exercise good judgement, know their abilities and limits as drivers and take into consideration traffic conditions.