Reporting for duty – different police vehicles of the UK

Have you ever wondered what make and model of vehicle are used by the police in the UK? There have been many shapes and sizes put into service over the years, but all distinguishable by their unique livery and reflective chevron markings. For more information on Chevron Kits, visit www.vehiclechevrons.com. Here are just a few examples:

Skoda Kodiaq vRS

Engine: Biturbo 2.0 TDI diesel

0-62mph: 7.0 seconds

Top speed: 136mph

While it doesn’t have to be a cool police car, Skodia Kodiaq vRS will certainly be a scary sight to see rushing towards you in your rear-view mirror. The four-wheel drive system and 237bhp means that lawbreakers have a small chance of escaping British bobby.

While many standard features remain such as 20-inch alloy wheels and dual exhaust pipes, there are some additional police specification upgrades. Some of the features that are not so standard include a complete 360 view due to strong LED lights sitting in the front screen, the grille, tailgate and number plates.

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Ford Focus RS

Engine: 2.3 litre 4cyl turbo

0-62mph: 4.7 seconds

Top speed: 165mph

Back in the 80s, Essex and Suffolk Police tried Ford RS200 to see if it would function as a patrol car. Despite reporting it as an ‘amazing hit’, it was never fully used. Thirty years later, Ford was quickly incorporated into the fleet – in the form of the Focus RS. With 345bhp under its hood, this is of course no less fast – and unlike RS200, it offers a back door to transport suspected criminals, and a boot large enough to hold multiple traffic cones.

Ariel Atom PL

Engine: Honda VTEC 2.0 litre, 350bhp

0-62mph: 2.5 seconds

Highest speed: 155mph

Ariel Atom PL was given to Avon and Somerset Constabulary after the announcement of Ariel’s motorcycle. Based on the Ariel Atom 3.5R, the PL’s power output increased from 240 to 350bhp, allowing it to reach 0-62mph in an incredible 2.6 seconds. While it’s fully decorated in police livery complete with blues-and-twos, there’s no way it will ever be used for nabbing criminals who are up to no good in the area. However, if they did use the car, there would not be many getaway drivers who could escape.

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Caparo T1

Engine: 3.5-litre V6, 345bhp

0-62mph: 2.5 seconds

Highest speed: 205mph

Caparo T1 is less than a patrol car and more than a high-speed chasing vehicle. The two-seater is being driven by the London Metropolitan Police. It can explode from 0-62mph in just 2.5 seconds, and while it’s not possible to reach a top speed of 200mph-plus in every chase in the heart of the capital, at least it will get people moving out of the way. Designed by the engineers behind McLaren F1, Caparo will not give offenders many opportunities to escape.