AN inquiry has been promised into Met officers apparently boasting on the internet about crashes they have had in police vehicles.

A group called Yes I Have Had A Polcol - short for police collision - on social networking site Facebook includes comments and pictures of crashes posted by people claiming to be officers from Greenwich and Lewisham.

One user writes: "The day before my response course, took an Astra down the side of a wall in Eltham station car park."

For this he awards himself "one point and a lot of laughs".

He goes on to describe two more incidents - the first of which resulted in a two-month ban and a "big slap on the wrists" - for which he gives himself "three points".

He finishes by writing that after his ban he had another scrape, damaging a patrol car again.

Another member of the group writes how she has had 15 'polcols' in three years.

"I really cannot drive for toffee," she says.

In response another member replies: "Thank goodness I left the streets of Lewisham before they gave you your ticket!"

In a statement about the alleged posts by officers Met Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said: "If true, this behaviour is totally unacceptable and we will be conducting a rigorous investigation to find those responsible."

A spokesmen for the Met said they would not comment on individual officers but said employees were given guidance about social networking sites on July 31 last year.

He said: "MPS demands the very highest of standards from all its employees.

"The Directorate of Professional Standards is now investigating those individuals concerned as their behaviour has clearly fallen short of that high standard expected.

"Clear guidance was circulated to all staff in July 2007 stating that such behaviour leaves officers and staff open to allegations or complaints of unprofessionalism.

"The MPS is clear that the conduct of all staff, whether on or off duty, must meet a high standard."