A cost-saving initiative is helping police make the most of its resources by reusing parts from written-off police vehicles to repair others in the fleet.

Instead of sending total-loss police vehicles to the scrapyard, useable components – from engines and gearboxes to light bars and panels – are being salvaged and stored then fitted into operational vehicles where needed around the country.

The initiative saved the organisation money, reducing waste and keeping more police vehicles on the road.

In the last financial year, savings of more than $1.3 million were reported. So far this year, savings are put at more than $408,000 excluding GST.

The programme is managed by Clive Turner, from First Rescue, who came up with the concept after seeing police vehicles deemed a total loss and sent to damaged vehicle auctions.

“It frustrated me seeing so many unaffected vehicle parts go to waste,” Turner said.

“Adding salt to the wound was on other repairs, some second-hand parts purchased via wreckers turned out to be off total-loss New Zealand Police vehicles.”

He spoke to the Police National Headquarters Fleet team and a trial was launched in 2019 in Waikato and Canterbury.

There were now donor storage locations in Whangārei, Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Hastings, Palmerston North, Wellington and Christchurch.

Reusing parts from written-off police vehicles is saving money, reducing waste and keeping more vehicles on the road. Photo / NZ Police

All districts had access to donor parts, with First Rescue assessing each vehicle repair on its merit – and where donor parts were available, and it’s feasible, the parts were moved to the district they are needed.

“The programme not only keeps police vehicles on the road at a fraction of the cost of normal repairs, it also significantly lowers time off the road as parts are easily accessible.”

Fleet Services managed the portfolio and communicated with Turner on an almost daily basis to authorise and request donor-related logistics.

This included identifying donor vehicles, opportunities to reduce repair quotes, moving donor vehicles between districts and expanding the programme.

Police and First Rescue were regularly monitoring regional demand for donor parts against availability, and seeking out new locations where possible.

-Police Ten One Magazine