Author: UK Emergency Vehicles

This is a Strathclyde Police launch which was a familiar site on the Clyde before being sold. It was last spotted in Portishead, converted to a sight seeing boat.

This is a MOD Police launch called James Dalton spotted near Faslane.

This is a Ministry of Defence boat based in Scotland.

MP5 is a Metropolitan Police launch, seen here at their Wapping base.

LX51 GJG is a Vauxhall Brava 4×4 that is attached to the Met Police’s Marine Policing Unit. The vehicle carries the pre-2008 name; the Marine Support Unit.



The rear view of the same Brava, showing warning signs for the substances carried.

SV51 ETA This is a Ford Cargo that has been specially converted into an Underwater Search Unit for Grampian Police.



The rear view of the same truck, showing the access to the rear compartment.

This is police launch MP7 used by the Metropolitan Police on the River Thames.

YK55 EYT This is one of West Yorkshire Police’s underwater search units. Shown is a Land Rover Defender which behind the double cab has bespoke bodywork for storage. Special features of this vehicle are the metalwork on the bonnet, A-pillar mounted snorkel and small blue flashing lights on the front grille only.



The rear view of the same Land Rover. Two more very small blue flashing LEDs can be seen on the rear.

This river watch / river patrol vessel is operated by Cheshire Police and Chester City Council.



The stern view of the same river patrol boat. It is fitted with a Honda outboard motor. The mast has some blue plastic on top – this is not a blue light.

This vessel is a MOD Police boat Sword. It is used around the RN Clyde Naval Base at Faslane.

This orange RIB is used by North Wales Police in Port Dinorwic.

This is the Ministry of Defence’s police boat Sir Humphy Gale which is based at Portsmouth Naval Base.

This is a photograph of one of Hampshire Police’s launches on the Solent. This example is called Sir James Scott and it carries a similar livery to the rest of Hampshire’s land-going fleet. It is fitted with a double blue flashing light and its aerial identifier code is ‘MAR 3’.

A police officer in an orange Humber rigid inflatable boat watches out for approaching vessels while a colleague scours the river bed for evidence from a crime. The flag that is shown (reproduced below) alerts mariners to divers in the vicinity.



Two further police officers wait on the shore for news from the diver by radio.



The police diver surfaces with the remains of a mobile ‘phone that has been thrown from a bridge. The police examine it before bagging it up to be sent for laboratory analysis.

YJ53 ENL This Ford Iveco Tector truck is the underwater search unit for North Yorkshire Police, based at Fulford, York. This truck is a very tall 4×4, 16 ton monster, with three steps up into the cab. In the rear is storage for diving equipments as well as a kitchen and showers. The RIBs are towed by a separate vehicle. It is a vast improvement on its rusty 1990 predecessor which it replaced in spring 2004.



The above vehicle in use.

G176 YEF North Yorkshire’s underwater search unit, with trailer and boat. This converted bus carries all of the necessary equipment for the police divers as they practice in the River Ouse. This 1990 registration vehicle is quite rusty due to its work environment.

R260 LFV This photograph depicts a North Yorkshire Police Ford Explorer. It is towing a police RIB (rigid inflatable boat) with detachable engine. The boat was launched and used to retrieve a body from the River Ouse.

Here we have a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) photographed at North Yorkshire Police’s central area headquarters. It is only used occasionally, such as when there is flooding.

P568 JKY A South Yorkshire Police Mercedes Sprinter van underwater search unit (with boat trailer).

A collection of trucks used for underwater search equipment transportation. From left to right are: a rare 4×4 Ford Transit with raised suspension, a West Yorkshire Mercedes Sprinter, A Northumbria Police Ford and a West Yorkshire Iveco. They have congregated at Northumbria Police’s Jarrow Marine Unit for a simulated rescue at near-by Tynemouth.

These two views shows the Lincolnshire and South Yorkshire vehicles. There are no standard colours, schemes, liveries, vehicles or equipment carried. Each force decides what it needs or can afford. Some areas do not have such services and have to draft in neighbouring force’s underwater search officers if they are needed.



The rear view. Inset: a close up of the side livery.

G176 YEF This is the Underwater Search Unit for North Yorkshire Police, pictured in 2000. This ageing vehicle is more like a minibus than a van, and is used not just in the N.Yorks. county but also in neighbouring counties where such units are unavailable.



The side-on view.