MORE police officers are killed driving to and from work than in the line of duty, according to the Police Federation.

The organisation wants more to be done to address a problem which has been blamed for the deaths of 41 officers since 2000.

A study carried out by the federation found that 65 per cent of collisions happened between 5am and 9am and when officers lived more than 25km (15.5 miles) from where they worked.

Incidents were most common and frequent in rural areas such as Dorset and Avon and Somerset, the Inspectors’ Central Committee revealed.

Deputy general secretary, Geoff Stuttaford, called for an increase in resources to ensure that officers had alternative travel if they are feeling too fatigued.

Dorset Police lost DC Ian Morton in a road accident in October last year after his car crashed into a bungalow in Highcliffe.

An inquest heard the 32-year-old had been using his mobile phone moments before the crash.

DC Morton was on his way to a 5.30am start in Bournemouth and had called his sergeant to say he was running late.

A colleague who had visited DC Morton the night before the crash said he had told her he had been working long hours and was “knackered”.

Clive Chamberlain, chairman of Dorset Police Federation, said the force has had a policy in place for some time now where officers can request a lift home if they feel they are too tired to drive.

“It doesn’t mean to say that hundreds of officers are being chauffeur-driven around the county, but it is available if someone really needs it. Dorset has been very proactive on this matter. The very least other forces should do is to follow suit.”

A Dorset Police spokesman said: “Where officers are retained on duty in excess of their normal hours they are routinely driven home where this is assessed as appropriate. Supervisors arrange for officers to be driven home and then collected for their next shift when necessary.”

Officers are also provided with health and wellbeing training which covers recognising the signs and dangers of fatigue in themselves and others.