Documenting UK emergency vehicles past and present

NX09 AMU This is a Ford Transit support vehicle used by North Yorkshire. It carries no blue lights, but a simple band of battenburg down each side. Adverts for Crimstoppers, the force’s non-emergency telephone number and the force website are shown too.

YN08 FGZ This BMW 330D is with the Yorkshire & Humber Regional Roads Policing Team. It is fitted with a clear LED lightbar mounted onto the roof rails and the distinctive team logo.

LC07 OGF and LC07 OGB are a BMW 330D and a 530D which are both with the Regional Roads Policing Team which has been set up to deny criminals the use of the roads and tackle offenders who cross force boundaries to commit crimes. It was formed in September 2008, taking officers from the North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and Humberside forces.

This yellow BMW motorbike is used in Northern Constabulary’s area of Scotland. Notice the minimal use of checker markings that follow the lines of the bike.

BX06 WUT This is a West Midlands Police Volvo S60.

This photograph shows a Volvo V70 2.5 FlexiFuel Turbo 200bhp police car. The V70 2.5FT produces 300Nm of torque and has a top speed of 130mph. FlexiFuel is one of Volvo’s latest innovations which allow cars to run on E85, a fuel that consists of 85% bioethanol and 15% regular petrol.

The rear view of the V70. The flexi-fuel system does not compromise on performance, and the car will still accelerate from 0 to 60mph in 7.6 seconds.

SY04 CTX Northern Constabulary operate this Nissan Terrano 4×4 to help cover the rural areas of Scotland.

The rear view of the Terrano.

LX56 FVJ This VW Transporter is used for non-emergency transportation in the London area by the Met Police.

The rear view of the VW.

FJ08 LBA This is a Skoda Octavia that is in service with Leicestershire Police. Notice the blue lights at four different heights when viewed from the front (roof, dashboard, grille, bumper) and the orange stripes running down the edge of the bonnet.

VX08 MDE is a Volvo V70 that is used by West Mercia Constabulary. The force polices around Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire.

This is a Tayside Police VW Passat Estate. It is decked out with a single tall band of battenburg markings down the sides and the force’s crest.

SP07 FOC This VW Crafter is Tayside police’s Comms Unit. Notice the large satellite dish on the roof. This is often used to watch 24-hour news channels which can provide an additional source of pictures at major incidents.

RO08 BJF is a silver Honda CR-V police demonstrator car. It is decked out in a generic police battenburg colour scheme.

MX08 LTA This is a Greater Manchester Police mobile police station based on an Iveco Daily. It is used in the Stockport area.

This is a Hampshire Constabulary advertising trailer which is used at events and at the roadside to communicate public information messages.

CU04 AOH is a black Land Rover Discovery belonging to North Yorkshire police. This is one of a number of such vehicles the force operates. Marked-up in 2008, their previous role was unmarked vehicles to be used day-to-day by senior officers. The remnants of this can be seen by the small hidden blue lights in the front grille.

The rear view of the Discovery, with a similar vehicle in the background. Notice the small matrix sign in the rear window that shows ‘police’.

R775 FJE This is a Volvo V70 T5 that is ex-Cambridgeshire Constabulary. It is being preserved in private ownership.

The rear view of the 1999 Volvo.

BL57 FFR is a Land Rover Discovery 3 decked out in generic police markings. It is fitted with a clear light bar on the roof and small led clusters around the vehicle’s bodywork.

The rear view of the Discovery.

YJ05 ABU During 2008 North Yorkshire Police added adverts to the rear of suitable vehicles. The “altn8” message asks readers to alternate drinks with soft drinks, nights out with nights in and your lifestyle. The brightly coloured adverts can be seen here on the back of a Peugeot Expert.

SF04 EZL This is a Mercedes C270 operated by Strathclyde Police in Scotland.

SY05 AXN Northern Constabulary operate this Ford Transit personnel carrier with prisoner cage in the rear.

SY05 BAU This Range Rover SE TD6 is part of Northern Constabulary’s roads policing fleet. The powerful 4×4 is as much at home cruising motorways as climbing slippy off-road tracks.

OU08 EAW This silver 2008 Ford S-Max is with Thames Valley Police.

LG04 UBD is Surrey Police’s mobile CCTV unit. It is not fitted with blue lights but is deployed in advance of potential problems. The main camera can be seen as a white pod sticking out the roof to the rear.

OU04 NDK Thames Valley also operate this Vauxhall Zafira. The white light in front of the roof light bar is a directional spotlight.

OU54 AEL Another Thames Valley vehicle is this Vauxhall Vivaro CCTV unit. A telescopic camera can be raised from the roof when it is parked up.

FJ08 MPY Here is a Ford Focus estate owned by Leicestershire Police. It carries the traditional stripe livery, which is similar to that used on Metropolitan Police vehicles.

W804 UGW is a Mercedes Sprinter van used by City of London Police. In 2008 the force revised its logo and the new one can be seen here stuck over the old one.

NX04 EHJ This VW LT46 is with Cleveland Police. Notice that there is no blue light bar on the roof, just lights positioned around the sides of the van.

NX57 ERJ This Ford Focus is with Cleveland Police. Interestingly the low-level white and blue checker band wraps around to the front of the car.

NX57 KVJ This Vauxhall Vivaro is another of Cleveland’s vehicles.

NX57 HOJ is a VW Crafter that is also with Cleveland Police. It is fitted with tinted windows, a white riot grille and small blue lights around the bodywork with no bar on the roof.

OU55 GVL This Volvo S60 is with Kent Police. It has a single wide band of battenburg markings down the sides and a yellow band on the bonnet to highlight the ‘police’ wording.

SF56 LKC This is a photograph of a smart BMW 530D which is run by Strathclyde Police.

YJ07 XZZ This Vauxhall Vectra is using its blue lights while escorting a marching band in Leeds city centre.

HX53 ONR This is a Hampshire Police carrier based on a Mercedes Sprinter van. It carries the traditional red and white “tiger stripe” banding.

BX08 LGU is a 2008 Met Police short wheelbase Ford Transit.

PJ52 FYF This striking yellow Peugeot Expert is a mobile CCTV vehicle with Merseyside Police.

The rear view of the Expert, showing the non-standard livery.

G430 VBP This Land Rover Defender is with Hampshire Police. It has been heavily armoured, with thicker glass for the windows, thick metal bodywork and other modifications to strengthen and reinforce. Note the absence of any obvious blue lights.

VN05 CWU is a Saab 9-5 that is decked out in Merseyside Police’s colours. The 220 BHP car has an ANPR camera fitted on top of the light bar.

SY55 BZE This is a Honda FES 125 scooter that is used by Northern Police’s traffic wardens to get about.

The rear view of the 125 scooter. It carries a high-visibility colour scheme and small ‘traffic warden’ signs.

Here are two of Cleveland police’s BMW motorbikes, complete with full diagonal battenburg markings.

LX55 FGF This is a Vauxhall Vectra which is used by London’s Met Police. It is the sporty SRI CDTI model with automatic transmission. Notice the black spot on the fuel flap to remind the driver it takes diesel.

NK08 AZT This is a Vauxhall Vivaro dog unit that is used by Durham Constabulary.

LX06 EUA This DAF truck is used by the Metropolitan Police to transport offending vehicles. It is fitted with blue and amber flashing lights, and carries an adapted version of the standard Met livery.

LV07 FLH This is a Yamaha FJR 1300 that is used by the City of London Police.

VX54 JCV This is a Mercedes Vito that is with Gloucestershire Constabulary. It carries a simple red stripe and small logos.

VX57 NNT is one of two Ford Focuses shown here that are also with Gloucestershire Constabulary. It has a simplified version of the force crest on the bonnet and a single band of battenburg down the sides. Notice the different lightbars on the otherwise identical vehicles.

MX07 UVJ is a Ford Focus belonging to GMP. It has a simple blue and yellow striped band down each side and the force’s mission statement: “fighting crime, protecting people”. It is one of the vehicles used at the driving school.

MX08 ESV is a GMP VW Transporter. The vehicle carries small ‘police’ wording on all sides and has two twin blue light bars on the roof.