accidents involving Police cars with Acting Commissioner Jean Jaques Lemay.

Home Affairs Minister Mr. Edness, who meets weekly with the Police hierarchy, confirmed he would be raising the issue with Mr. Lemay.

Mr. Edness said one option appeared to be a "really intensive'' training programme for officers who are passed fit to drive patrol cars.

He added: "We will look at that and see if there is anything they can do.'' Mr. Edness was speaking after the latest incident involving a Police vehicle.

A marked patrol vehicle using its blue light was in a high-speed collision with another car on Friday night in Southampton.

The officer involved suffered whiplash injuries and a chip to the spine.

The smash -- the seventh involving a Police vehicle in less than a month -- led to pledges from Police chiefs that they would be looking at skills behind the wheel.

Before the latest crash, Acting Assistant Commissioner Alan Bissell warned that Police drivers could face tougher tests in the future.

Mr. Edness, however, added: "It seems a series of events which is just pure bad luck -- in several cases, it appears other people hit the Police cars.'' According to Police, the force boasts a total of 26 marked cars and 42 unmarked. The recent spate of accidents have all involved marked vehicles.