Police vehicles in the United Kingdom go by many different names depending on the police force and type of vehicle. Some common terms used across the UK for police cars include patrol cars, response vehicles, area cars, and interceptors.
Common Police Car Names in the UK
Here are some of the most common names used for police cars by various police forces across the UK:
- Patrol car – A standard police car used for routine patrols and responding to non-emergency calls.
- Response vehicle – Vehicles for responding rapidly to emergency calls.
- Area car – Similar to a patrol car but assigned to a specific area or neighborhood.
- Interceptor – High-performance vehicles for pursuing suspects or responding urgently.
- Armed response vehicle – Carry armed police officers.
- Traffic car – Used for traffic enforcement and accident investigation.
- Dog unit – Transport police dogs and handlers.
- Carrier or transport vehicle – Larger vans and trucks for transporting personnel or equipment.
Specific police forces may use other unique terms not widely adopted across the UK. For example, the Metropolitan Police Service refers to patrol cars as “response team vehicles.”
Terminology by Police Force
While there is overlap in terminology, different regional police forces within the UK tend to have their own preferences for police vehicle names. Here are some examples:
Metropolitan Police Service
- Response team vehicle
- Carrier
- Traffic car
- Armed response vehicle
Kent Police
- Patrol car
- Response car
- Area car
- Roads policing unit
Greater Manchester Police
- Response vehicle
- Patrol vehicle
- Divisional vehicle
- Traffic car
West Midlands Police
- Patrol vehicle
- Response vehicle
- Area vehicle
- Traffic vehicle
- Carrier
As you can see, terminology varies somewhat but patrol car, response vehicle, and traffic car are widely used terms across UK police forces.
Types of Police Cars
Beyond the general names used, UK police vehicles can be categorized by their specific uses and capabilities:
Patrol Cars
Patrol cars make up the bulk of police fleets. They are standard 4-door sedans or wagons painted with high-visibility police livery. Officers use them for routine patrols and non-emergency response. Common models include the Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra, and Skoda Octavia.
Response Vehicles
Response vehicles have more powerful engines and performance capabilities. They transport officers quickly to emergency incidents like crimes in progress or traffic accidents. Popular models are the BMW 5 Series and Audi A4.
Traffic Units
Traffic cars have equipment like speed detection devices and breathalyzers. They are mainly used to enforce traffic laws and investigate auto accidents. Vauxhall Insignias and BMW 3 Series wagons are widely used.
Armed Response Units
These vehicles transport armed officers specially trained to deal with violent, high-risk situations. They are equipped with weapons lockers and often use high-performance unmarked vehicles. BMW X5 SUVs are commonly seen.
Dog Units
Dog handlers use specially modified vehicles like vans and SUVs to transport police dogs for tracking, drug detection, searches, and suspect apprehension. Common models include the Vauxhall Vivaro and Ford Transit.
Carriers / Transport Units
Larger vans, trucks, and buses operated by police forces for moving personnel and equipment. Often used as mobile command centers at large events or crime scenes.
Specialist Vehicles
Some police forces also operate smaller numbers of unique vehicles for specific purposes like horse transport, marine patrol, off-road capability, or protected prisoner transport.
Markings and Liveries
Police cars in the UK are nearly always clearly marked with high-visibility retroreflective striping known as battenburg markings. These checkerboard stripes help identify vehicles as police cars at a glance. They are most often blue and yellow but some forces use blue and white or yellow and blue.
Police forces have standard guidelines on markings that specify where colors and retroreflective materials are located on vehicles. This helps create a uniform, easily recognized look across a force’s entire fleet despite using different vehicle models.
Here are some examples of police car liveries from major UK police forces:
Metropolitan Police Service
The Met uses blue and yellow battenburg markings on operational vehicles. Red and blue or yellow stripes are used for traffic vehicles and carriers.
Kent Police
Kent Police vehicles feature half blue and half yellow battenburg stripes outlined in a thin red border.
Greater Manchester Police
Patrol cars have full blue and yellow battenburg markings with “POLICE” text on the sides and back of vehicles.
West Midlands Police
West Midlands uses bold blue and white battenburg stripes with silver horizontal striping for most vehicles.
Unmarked Vehicles
Some police vehicles are unmarked and do not feature standard police livery or markings. These are typically used for duties like covert surveillance or transporting detainees. Unmarked cars still have blue and red emergency lights to identify themselves if needed.
Lights and Sirens
All UK police vehicles have emergency lighting systems with colored flashing lights. Forward facing red and blue lights are used on nearly all vehicles when responding to emergencies under exemptions to normal traffic laws.
The specific patterns and colors of lights are set by regulations. For example, traffic units often use dual rear-facing red and blue lights when stopped at roadsides. Most police vehicles also have sirens to clear traffic when urgently responding to calls.
Motors Used
UK police forces utilize a mix of standard production sedans, wagons, SUVs, and vans from major automakers like Ford, Vauxhall, BMW, and Volkswagen. The most common police motors include:
- 1.8L to 3.0L 4-cylinder or 6-cylinder petrol/diesel engines
- Front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive
- Automatic transmissions
- Power output ranging from about 130 to over 300 brake horsepower
Factors like available budget, repair costs, local automotive manufacturing, and driver feedback influence vehicle procurement choices. More powerful engines are often used in interceptors and response vehicles for faster acceleration and top speeds.
Driver Training
Officers authorized to drive police vehicles must complete comprehensive training on topics like:
- Emergency response and pursuit driving tactics
- Skid control
- High-speed intercept techniques
- Operation of emergency equipment
- Incident recording and reporting
This ensures officers can safely operate vehicles in demanding conditions while responding to calls or apprehending suspects. Regular refresher training is also provided.
Equipment and Technology
Modern police cars contain a vast array of equipment and technology to help officers perform their duties, including:
- Two-way radios and mobile data terminals for dispatch communication
- Emergency lighting and sirens
- Speed detection devices
- ANPR – Automatic number plate recognition cameras
- Onboard computer systems with databases
- Evidence collection kits
- Breathalyzers
- Ticket printers
- Video recording systems
- GPS navigation and tracking
Heavily equipped response and traffic units may also have additional tools like traffic cones, spike strips, traffic barriers, and signage.
Recent Trends and Changes
Some recent developments around UK police vehicles include:
- Adoption of more unmarked and discreet vehicles for some duties
- Use of smaller SUV models instead of large sedans
- Hybrid or electric vehicles for environmental sustainability
- Camera upgrades from VHS to digital
- Testing driverless vehicles and drone integration
- Bulk buying programs between forces for cost savings
Many forces are also modernizing their vehicle tracking and fleet management using wireless connectivity and data analysis tools.
Famous UK Police Cars
Some iconic police cars from British TV and movies include:
- Ford Anglia from Harry Potter
- Jaguar Mark 2 from Inspector Morse
- Land Rover Defender from The Sweeney
- Vauxhall Viva from Life on Mars
- Mini Cooper from Mr. Bean
While not the standard vehicles used operationally, these cars are recognizable from their memorable on-screen roles.
Conclusion
Police cars in the UK go by many names – patrol cars, response vehicles, traffic units – and use specific markings to identify themselves. While terminology varies by force, all police vehicles have emergency equipment and technology to help officers respond quickly and perform their duties. liveries and capabilities continue to evolve, UK police cars remain an iconic symbol of keeping communities safe.