A M-registration police Ford Transit arrives at a shop in York. Two cycling police officers were already in attendance dealing with a shoplifter. A BBC film crew are also present, filming the work of the police.
This lorry is being fitted out by Durham Constabulary. The side reads ‘Wear and Tees Durham Constabulary Community Safety’. It will probably acquire more livery (possibly including blue lights) and a September 2002 registration plate.
V89 DTY A Vauxhall Astra estate dedicated to the rural areas of County Durham.
R432 JTN A Durham Peugeot 306 1.9D panda car.
The rear view of an equivalent vehicle.
A Cleveland Police Honda motorbike in miniature battenburg markings.
The return of the Sinclair C5! It’s front and rear flashing blue light have been replaced with a single rotating beacon. It is used for advertising only. The vehicle before the light change can be seen here.
An unusual scene: a Durham Vauxhall Astra – with its blue lights on – has crashed into a NEAS paramedic rapid response bike (N321 NTN). It has caused the ‘severe’ damage of a blue light popping out of its socket.
NA02 AEF A Durham Mercedes Benz 320.
The rear view, showing the true registration.
R657 DGV A Peugeot van converted into a forward command unit for use at major police incidents.
X513 WJR A Durham BMW 3-series.
The rear view.
The inside view of a Mercedes C class. The controls for the lights and sirens, the radios and the speed detector can be seen alongside the video screen.
Incredibly, here is a Durham Contabulary Sinclair C5. This single-seat electric vehicle was the vision of future personal transport by Sir Clive Sinclair in the 1980’s. Here it is fitted with blue flashing lights and is mainly used for motorway and rapid response work.
… or it may just be non-operational and helping to advertise a private company!
X783 NWR A Volvo V70 T5 traffic car from North Yorks. Police. It is blocking the road as there has been a road accident ahead. A driver has lost control of his car for medical reasons and crashed into the wall of a tunnel. The Volvo’s matrix sign is flashing ‘R O A D’ then ‘ACCIDENT’ to inform motorists. Signs at both ends of the tunnel warn people to call the railway’s emergency number before calling the emergency services to an accident. This is because even a small knock to the tunnel could cause the railway lines above to jolt out of place – with disastrous consequences.
X784 GEG A Ford Focus estate dog unit demonstrator from Ford. Here it is use with Northumbria Police for evaluation purposes.
The rear view. Notice the roof vent for the dogs and the blacked out rear screen.
This is a 2001 Honda VTR SP-1 motorbike from Durham Constabulary.
The rear view of the same VTR.
This is a Honda CBR 900, also liveried as Durham Constabulary.
NK51 DDO A 2001 Land Rover Defender from Durham Constabulary. This photo was taken in Blanchland, Northumbria. Blanchland used to have a part-time Northumbria Police station.
The rear view.
T302 ACK A Rover 200 from North Yorkshire Police.
The rear view showing the high contrast colour scheme.
T301 ACK is the poorer sister of the above car, having just a yellow stripe up the side and a flaking ‘police’ sign.
Y726 HWY A police outrider on escort duties. Motorbikes are now the best option for escorting VIPs. They can stay ahead of the convoy and stop traffic seconds before the VIP’s car arrives. Previously, an officer at each major junction would stop traffic minutes before the arrival, causing more traffic jams.
The above motorbike is joined by sister vehicles Y723 HWY Y722 HWY Y721 HWY (in this order). The line up of escorting motorbikes, all with registrations from the same run. Notice that the second bike from the left doesn’t have the force crest on the front like the others.
Y354 EUP A 2000-model Ford Transit. This vehicle has a 2.4 litre turbo diesel engine and is being used by the dog section of Northumbria Police.
The rear three-quarter view. Notice the three ‘double-bubble’ blue lights on the roof, with small red spots to give a red and blue light to the rear only. The van also has heavily tinted or blacked-out rear windows.
NK51 WWP A 2001 Ford Focus panda car from Northumbria Police’s fleet. The Crimestoppers telephone number can be seen on the nearside, whereas on the offside we have the Northumbria Police website address.
The side view. Ford Focuses replaced Ford Fiestas after taller officers requested larger vehicles for more comfort. They often need to make a quick exit and this is not easy when you are over 6 feet tall, are wearing body armour, have a radio, baton, handcuffs and other paraphernalia around your waist and are squeezed into a small car!
BT51 GWC This is a VW Passatt Police car which was supplied to Warwickshire Special Constabulary by Spirit Volkswagen of Warwick. It is a standard 100BHP TDI model, which
squeezes into the GP (general purpose) category so can be driven by anyone with a
basic police driving licence. The rear cargo windows have been covered in
silver vinyl and carries the sponsors name as well as the force crest and mission statement.
Two web sites are written on the bonnet sides, the bike safe web
site and the force’s own web site. There are also 3 magnetic signs which attach to the bonnet when the vehicle is
stationary designed by local primary school children.
The light bar ensures no permanent drilling or damage was needed and is combined with the sound system (yelp, wail and hi-lo) and a public address. This is coupled with blue flashing lights and
with an alternating headlamp flasher which cycles through left double flash
to right double flash and then to both double flash. There is no doubt that
you will see this one coming! It also has a state-of-the-art talking satellite navigation system installed.
We’re still not finished though! What finishes the uniqueness of this vehicle for the Special Constabulary is
the carriage of an defibrillator (heart re-starter)
machine. In co-operation with Warwickshire Ambulance service, the vehicle
can be dispatched to incidents where it is likely to be on scene prior to
the ambulance unit. 16 officers are trained in using the machine and
will also be receiving additional first aid training. Here we see a practice run for publicity purposes.
This is the trailer that will be towed by the Passat above. The blue lights have been added, but not the livery yet. The trailer can fulfill many roles, including being used as a static display, as shown in the picture.
Here is the car and liveried trailer combination in use.
Y376 GDU A Warwickshire Police Ford Fiesta. Although this is in the same vehicle category as the Passatt above, there is a world of difference between the vehicles.
Y39 YJF and Y431 AUT are two Leicestershire Police vehicles at a motorway patrol point. On the left is an Isuzu Trooper and on the right is a Volvo V70.
We jump back a number of years here with a Ford Granada in Northumbria Police’s livery from 1988 (F registration). Note how sparse the livery is compared to more recent vehicles. You can also just see a Ford Sierra patrol car behind the Granada.
V250 LFM is a Cheshire Police Vauxhall Astra.
X523 GEG A West Yorkshire Police Ford Focus.
Y712 HWY A North Yorks. Volvo V70 following a police Ford Transit during escort duties.
A North Yorks police solo preparing for an escort.
A Metropolitan Police Landrover Discovery [model].