Police Vehicles of the Twenty-First Century

Police vehicles have always been an essential part of protecting law and order in the United Kingdom. Whether responding to emergency incidents, stopping fleeing motorists or providing protection to the public in the most hostile of situations, the country’s police forces have a wide variety of assets at their disposal. Beyond the commonly seen neighbourhood patrol vehicles are many specialist resources, including fast traffic vehicles, armed response teams, mounted units for transporting police horses, marine support units for patrolling on the water and the provision of air support from above delivered by aircraft, helicopters and drones. Since 2000, much has changed: vehicle manufacturers have come and gone, police vehicle liveries have almost universally adopted the blue and yellow ‘Battenburg’ scheme, and as environmental considerations come to the fore, police forces have assessed and incorporated both hybrid and all-electric vehicles into their fleets.

John Godwin presents a fascinating insight into police vehicles over the last twenty-five years, including examples from many of the forty-five Territorial Police Forces of the UK, the three Specialist Police Forces, Parks Police, Ports Police and several others. All sections are amply illustrated with colour photographs from across the country.