# What Kind Of Cars Do The Cops In England Have? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 10, 2004, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-cars-do-the-cops-in-england-have/228427 "2004-02-10T11:20:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-cars-do-the-cops-in-england-have/228427/21 "2004-02-10T14:09:47Z")
> [@guy-in-corner](#): > > Quite often, a local car manufacturer will give the police a good deal. For example, a couple of years ago, Coventry police had quite a lot of Peugeot cars, because Peugeot had a plant nearby. There is a BMW plant here and, you guessed it, we have BMW cop cars and even some motorcycles! ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-cars-do-the-cops-in-england-have/228427/22 "2004-02-10T14:09:56Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > So,in a well-to-do town likw The Isle of Wight, the local police would have Jaguar XJS’s? That would make the job of police officer pretty attractive! Any towns have Rolls-Royce patrol cars? :rolleyes: I think the point is that the cops would drive regular bog-standard cars, but the top-end cars available would be better the richer the area, or the greater the need for speed. And yes, there are really honestly a few shit-hot police sports cars around for high-speed chases. (To complicate your question, the Isle of Wight isn’t a town, it’s an island, and it wouldn’t have any roads that your average crim could get up to any sort of speed on, so the local force, which would be Hampshire, probably don’t need really top performance cars there.) ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-cars-do-the-cops-in-england-have/228427/23 "2004-02-10T14:10:59Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > So,in a well-to-do town likw The Isle of Wight, the local police would have Jaguar XJS’s? That would make the job of police officer pretty attractive! Any towns have Rolls-Royce patrol cars? :rolleyes: The Isle of Wight is not a town. It’s an island. Tricky, huh? :rolleyes: The police don’t have Rollers, but the Beefeaters Motorised Pursuit Division does. Because they are answerable directly to the Queen, they do not need numberplates. 🆒 They’re mainly ceremonial. In theory, if anyone stole the Crown Jewels then the BMPD would chase 'em in the Rolls-Royces. On the other hand, no-one has actually stolen the Crown Jewels since Captain Blood. ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-cars-do-the-cops-in-england-have/228427/24 "2004-02-10T14:22:19Z")
> [@Pergau](#): > > I remember reading about the problems that the police had in the '60s with bank robberies etc. The police had Morris Minors and Austin 7s and the like but the bad guys always used a Jag so they could easily outrun the police. It took a lot of pressure from the police to be allowed to get proper cars (4.2 litre Jags). > > The main objection that came from the top brass was that the constables would be driving better cars than the police chiefs. > > On a side note, the car that Inspector Morse uses in the series is actually owned and driven by a retired bank robber. Not quite true. Some police forces had big cars such as Ford Zodiac and Zephyrs ( hence the police TV series called \*Z Cars \* . I also recall seeing film from around that time of police using other large cars such as Humber , Riley and Rover. ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-cars-do-the-cops-in-england-have/228427/25 "2004-02-10T14:22:47Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > They’re mainly ceremonial. In theory, if anyone stole the Crown Jewels then the BMPD would chase 'em in the Rolls-Royces. On the other hand, no-one has actually stolen the Crown Jewels since Captain Blood. And everyone knows he used a speedboat… ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-cars-do-the-cops-in-england-have/228427/26 "2004-02-10T14:36:25Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > Chevy stopped making the Caprice a few years ago, so now the available cars are basically the Crown Vic and the Impala. Ah, well shows what I know! I know just about squat about cars. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-cars-do-the-cops-in-england-have/228427/27 "2004-02-10T14:59:29Z")
> [@Angua](#): > > I’m sure there’s an added wittisicm about sheep in there somewhere as well. Except my brain can’t quite get it together. Wales, miners, police in Minis, chasing bad guys driving Morris Minors, down mines… Will I draw a diagram? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-cars-do-the-cops-in-england-have/228427/28 "2004-02-10T15:01:52Z")
> [@TwistofFate](#): > > Will I draw a diagram? > > 😉 There’ll be no need for that **Twisty** , I get it. I’m just being slow today. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-cars-do-the-cops-in-england-have/228427/29 "2004-02-10T15:12:21Z")
> [@garius](#): > > And everyone knows he used a speedboat… No, really, Captain Blood, back in the late 1600s, had a good go at making off with the royal sparklies. I try to inject at least one real fact into every paragraph 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-cars-do-the-cops-in-england-have/228427/30 "2004-02-10T16:02:48Z")
Back to the topic… Several police forces have Subaru Imprezas made up to near-rally spec, North Yorkshire and Humberside police both come to mind. [http://www.ukemergency3.f9.co.uk/impreza11.jpg](http://www.ukemergency3.f9.co.uk/impreza11.jpg) As for the use of small cars, Ford Fiestas and Focuses being the most common from what I’ve seen, this is probably partly due to them being able to follow criminals down alleys and shortcuts that a larger car would be unable to enter. There’s definaltey a few Jaguars around for motorway pursuit, but no idea which forces operate them. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-cars-do-the-cops-in-england-have/228427/31 "2004-02-10T17:06:07Z")
Do UK police cars still have sirens that make that tinny “nurr-neee-nurr-neee-nurr-neee” sound? My impression of European police cars, from what I’ve seen in the US media, is that they’re tiny; a little Fiat or Skoda dolled up in a yellow checkerboard pattern, the text reading “Poĵlicza”, “Policątu” or “Kååps”. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-cars-do-the-cops-in-england-have/228427/32 "2004-02-10T17:20:40Z")
Yeah, the have the “nurr-neee” sound, along with “WoooOOOoOOooOOo” and the slightly-camp “uuuuuoooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooouuuuuuu”. They alternate them at random, seemingly for fun. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-cars-do-the-cops-in-england-have/228427/33 "2004-02-11T11:44:56Z")
Ah, Dammit, Gorilla Man. I was all set up to come in and post my fact “some forces use Subaru Imprezas for high speed chases”. Apparently Essex police tried out the Mitsubishi Evo iv (hell of a car!) but didn’t choose it because of cost of parts etc. I found a site that might be of use - [http://www.geocities.com/policecaruk/forcesmap.html](http://www.geocities.com/policecaruk/forcesmap.html) ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-cars-do-the-cops-in-england-have/228427/34 "2004-02-11T12:09:28Z")
The best way to check what the sirens that are currently fashionable amongst police forces is to listen to shat sound they start The Bill with. Although, that show has gone so down hill since they changed from the old 7/8 time to the new common time theme tune. ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-cars-do-the-cops-in-england-have/228427/35 "2004-02-11T12:49:43Z")
That’s quite true (with a nod to Bill Bailey). I loved the old style The Bill. Bob Cryer, Burnside, DC Martella. Ah, that was a good show. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-cars-do-the-cops-in-england-have/228427/36 "2004-02-11T15:10:32Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Do UK police cars still have sirens that make that tinny “nurr-neee-nurr-neee-nurr-neee” sound? I think that police cars should junk the flashing blue lights and instead have a pair of lights, one neon and one sodium vapour, flashing alternately. Because then they would go “Ne-Na-Ne-Na-Ne-Na…” But then I also think if you could polymerise helium it would make laughing gas. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-cars-do-the-cops-in-england-have/228427/37 "2004-02-12T03:42:41Z")
auxili- is more _help_ than support, isn’t it? I would have gone with adminiculum. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-cars-do-the-cops-in-england-have/228427/38 "2004-02-12T03:44:26Z")
> [@dutchboy208](#): > > auxili- is more _help_ than support, isn’t it? > > I would have gone with adminiculum. Er… whoops. The Humber force (I think… might have been Wiltshire) had a Porsche 968 Club Sport in the mid-90s. The Ford Escort Cosworth seemed to be the pursuit vehicle of choice for a while. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-cars-do-the-cops-in-england-have/228427/39 "2004-02-12T16:53:17Z")
Try [http://www.ukpolicevehicles.co.uk](http://www.ukpolicevehicles.co.uk) for more photos. In Northern Ireland there are Vauxhall Vectras and Rover 45’s mostly but for riot duty and patrols in less savoury areas Tangi armoured Land Rovers are used. Both in [white]([www.ukpolicevehicles.co.uk/](http://www.ukpolicevehicles.co.uk/) pages/psni\_01.htm) and [grey]([www.landrovermodels.co.uk/](http://www.landrovermodels.co.uk/) glr06.html) livery’s. Unmarked cars used to be used for all occasions with a few liveried vehicles for special occasions, Austin Montego and Volkswagen Passat saloons were the favourites then. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-cars-do-the-cops-in-england-have/228427.md?page=1)