Update - Another video uploaded:

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

A friend of mine managed to capture some rare and fantastic footage of a response in one of the Met's new Skoda Octavia ANPR Area Cars, and I thought I'd like to share it:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q35YdLDlFs

 

This is a picture of the type of vehicle from the outside:

 

 

Honestly, it's a privilege to see footage from this viewpoint - we all know that ride-alongs are common in America and at police open days over here in the UK, but how often do you actually get to see from inside one responding in a London Borough!

 

Important Note: NO UK-US bashing in this thread please, it will just lead to non-constructive discussion. This is mainly for the UK police enthusiasts on our forums, and those interested in UK policing.

 

For the full list off videos check out his channel! https://www.youtube.com/user/Thirdwatchandgta

Edited February 8, 201412 yr by Double Doppler

What is an ANPR area car?

What is an ANPR area car?

 

The car which is equipped with the automatic number plate recognition system.

And "area car" means?

And "area car" means?

 

Its the term used to describe the car which a London Borough will prioritise to go to I grade calls and pursuits. Its driven by Advanced drivers who are trained in advanced pursuit tactics and driving skills. The Area car is usually a more powerful car compared to the standard IRV cars. They also tend to be able to pick what calls/shouts they would like to go to.

Source: My father is an Area Car driver on a London borough and has been for the past 20 years.

And "area car" means?

 

It's for slightly juicier calls, And has an advanced pursuit driver. Also it has to be double crewed. Each borough in London will have 2-3 depending on size. The main priority is to keep a pursuit ongoing till the traffic department takes over. However when not in a chase they will take calls of high importance

Why were they going lights and sirens and then turn off the siren (and perhaps lights) when they got to the intersection, then turned them back on again?

Why were they going lights and sirens and then turn off the siren (and perhaps lights) when they got to the intersection, then turned them back on again?

 

Emergency services over here only use the sirens when there's traffic ahead that need to be warned of the fast approaching vehicle. I haven't watched the video but I'm guessing there were no vehicles at the crossroads so they switched them off.

 

Its the same logic I was taught when I was taking driving lessons, if there's nobody around to witness a turn signal (say on a small residential road) then whats the point putting it on?

Did he turn it off *at* the intersection? Here (in the US), even if there's no traffic, they often run as they enter an intersection anyway.

It's more likely because it was a suspects on burglary. From where they turned them off they were very close to the scene, so did not want to scare the criminals off. But as they turn into the road where the call was located they were cancelled so could put the sirens back on.

Did he turn it off *at* the intersection? Here (in the US), even if there's no traffic, they often run as they enter an intersection anyway.

 

He turned the lights and sirens off because he stopped. If the car was moving into the intersection then it would be a strict requirement to use full lights and sirens.

 

And "area car" means?

 

More or less the UK equivalent of your "interceptor cars" - they respond to urgent calls, chase stolen vehicles, and are mainly involved in pursuits. Before the battenburg Skoda estates, the police used to use BMW 3 saloons (you might call them "sedans") and estates, with the red stripe on the side.

That's pretty cool

Very rare indeed to get a ridealong in the UK.  Up here they said that for data protection and safety concerns they don't do them.

Very rare indeed to get a ridealong in the UK.  Up here they said that for data protection and safety concerns they don't do them.

Gotta love Police Scotland, eh?

Cops over in the UK sound like they are better organized than American/ Canadian LEO's.

Cops over in the UK sound like they are better organized than American/ Canadian LEO's.

I'd say they're just as organised as American/Canadian cops. They're just a lot more protective here. For example, you're allowed to listen to police radios in America and Canada; however here in the UK they have special radios that can only be picked up by other radios of it's kind that are programmed the same way. (here's more info on it)

Gotta love Police Scotland, eh?

 

Oh, absolutely.  I love how they couldn't even get a logo ready in time for the changeover and how they don't even have standard badges or cars - it's a mess.

Oh, absolutely.  I love how they couldn't even get a logo ready in time for the changeover and how they don't even have standard badges or cars - it's a mess.

Today I saw an X5 still with the Lothian and Borders logo, a good 5 months after the Police Scotland formed. I redact my statement about cops in the UK being just as organised (it may be the case for England) but definitely not here in Scotland

Cops over in the UK sound like they are better organized than American/ Canadian LEO's.

 

Perhaps, yes, but that comes at a price.  Policing here is far too bureaucratic.  As far as I'm aware there's forms or paperwork that have to be filled in for just about everything and it creates a huge workload on the officers.  There's certainly no organisation up here when it comes to equipment, uniform or vehicles though.

Today I saw an X5 still with the Lothian and Borders logo, a good 5 months after the Police Scotland formed. I redact my statement about cops in the UK being just as organised (it may be the case for England) but definitely not here in Scotland

 

I saw one of their new Volvo traffic cars through in Stirling today and it had the ugly Police Scotland on the front of it and then the rest was just full battenburg with only the Police Scotland twitter logo on the side.  If you were a tourist or something and you only saw the side of it, you wouldn't have a clue what it was.

 

I originally strongly disliked UK cop cars but man they're starting to grow on me

Was not a big fan of the siren but it was pretty sweet to see some UK cop action!

Thanks for sharing.