LX04 FJD The rear view of an identical Peugeot, also being delivered. The rear third of the vehicle has a caged area for detaining prisoners, and the central third has regular seating and equipment storage facilities.
LX04 FHH This diesel Peugeot Expert is being delivered on a car transporter prior to going into operation. The BTP have adopted a new blue light bar arrangement from older models, and this van also has blue LED strobes in the front grille.
York Minster Police have been policing the cathedral since 1275.
Some of the officers of York Minster Police, including officer John Key standing outside the Minster.
York Minster Police are a non-Home Office force whose officers are not sworn in as constables. They cover York’s cathedral as well as a number of smaller buildings and grounds. They have never had any vehicles or cycles due to the small geographic area they cover. They have an office, but do not have facilities for detaining arrested suspects. Any arrested persons are handed over to the local Home Office force, North Yorkshire Police. The county force will also investigate any serious crime as the Minster force do not carry out investigative work.
The force consists of 10 officers (2008) including one inspector who work shifts to provide 24 hour a day cover. They set their own training schedules which include using truncheons, handcuffs and body armour. As recently as the 1980s officers brought their own dogs to work and used them in their duties.
Minster Police officers liaise with the North Yorkshire Police officers during an evacuation due to a suspect package.
York Minster Police can trace their history right back to 1275. In this year King Edward appointed a constable to keep order at the Minster. By 1285 everything was in place for the Minster Police, including their own court and prison. There are occasional mentions of the force in the history books through the centuries, but the history is better documented from the 1900s onwards. During World War I the officers helped with fire protection when grenades were being thrown from aircraft. By World War II they were trained in fire prevention by the local fire service.
The York Minster Police was part of the Home Office from the time when Robert Peel introduced the modern police service to the UK. At some point between the world wars they moved to being a non-Home Office force. This saved this very small force as they would almost certainly have been merged with the county force.
The Force’s claim to fame is that they are the forerunners of the modern police service. Sir Robert Peel visited the Minster on a number of occasions and monitored the workings of the force prior to forming the Metropolitan Police.
Another interesting fact is that it was a York Minster Police officer on his first shift who discovered the fire that led to major damage to the Minster in 1984.
The Minster Police direct the fire service to flooding at the historic building. The police officers silence the fire alarm system during religious services and the fire brigade, if called, are instructed to arrive quietly.
In this 4-picture scene we can see a RAF Sea King rescue helicopter from RAF Leconfield involved in an emergency on top of York Minster. A man fell ill at the highest point of the tower and could not be taken down the steep spiral staircases. The winchman is lowered first and liaises with the ambulance service while the Minster Police keep the area sterile. After the aircraft has circled for a few minutes, a paramedic in bright yellow coat winched up and then finally the casualty on a stretcher with winchman alongside.
Two ceremonial truncheons hang outside the police office.
Some of the minster constables from years gone by.
A few more images of the 2016 uniform.
During times of high demand, other members of the Minster staff are used for policing duties.
T633 AGX is the familiar LDV (Leyland DAF Vans) but this time in the BTP guise. Notice the illuminated sign on the grille.
R130 CMX is a BMW 3 series.
This is a Rover 600, used for fast responses by the BTP. Note the vents for the siren between the blue lights.
This is a Ford Iveco van with a trailer. Note the long side-on blue light on the trailer. It looks like the far side of it opens up to make a display or show. The van also has two blue lights to the rear as ‘repeaters’ because the main bar of blue lights is so high and so far from the front that it may be missed when viewed by a car behind.
K895 EYL
BTP
Leyland DAF
Located at York railway station
K343 FPU is a Ford Courier Van, based at York Station. They are the equivalent of panda cars, not high powered and quite small. This vehicle is based on the Ford Fiesta, many of which are pictured elsewhere on this site.
The same car from the rear.
R137 CMX is a Peugeot 406 BTP car. The livery is the same as all other BTP cars, with the siren mounted next to the police sign on the roof. Notice the registration is only a few numbers different from the BMW and Rover below
V372 LGN A massive BTP Ford Transit minibus. This bus has an electric door, drivers cab and plush seats as well as a full livery, including blue flashing lights on all sides.
X962 LGW A BTP Peugeot Expert van. The national livery is altered slightly in Wales by the inclusion of ‘HEDDLU’ on the bonnet and dual language on the officer’s uniforms: Heddlu Trafnidiaeth Prydeinig
W762 UGW A BTP Peugeot 806 MPV. Because this police force is a national service, it’s vehicles are uniform throughout the country in types and markings.
The rear view. Due to the length of the roof, an additional blue light mini bar has been added. This is so motorists close behind can see when the blue lights are activated, as well as increasing the vehicle’s overall presence.
X78 LGU Another BTP Peugeot, this time a 406 diesel. Notice the vents in the light bar for the siren. Older light bars have the siren above the driver but newer ones have it above the passenger. This is because the sound was interfering with the driver’s concentration.
The rear view of the same vehicle.
We have a policy of not showing unmarked police vehicles on this website.
Such vehicles are usually unmarked for a reason. They are not just used to surprise speeding motorists, but may carry out intelligence work, covert observations or transport VIPs. It may be compromising to have their descriptions and registrations widely known. Also, they are far less interesting that marked emergency vehicles. Partially or temporarily marked vehicles are sometimes shown on this website if deemed sensible. Sometimes their registration plates have been disguised.