Any actual serving police persons on here?

[Matt]

 

Anyone else watched this programme? I'm just watching an episode for the first time and I can't tell if it's satire or not. Speaking of lighting regs is there any way a private security firm could legitimately use amber lights?

[Alan_Green]

Years back a work colleague slashed his commute (so the legend goes) by buying one of those de-stickered ex-traffic cop Senator 24vs that they always seemed to have in Car Giant for £3K. He fitted a roof rack and would wear his hi-viz jacket (legit as was a fellow dock worker). Apparently he could sit at 80 in the fast lane all day long and the cars in front would see him approach and get out of the way.  Bet it would still work today. What would you think if you saw the front of this in your rear view?

[Matt]

Years back a work colleague slashed his commute (so the legend goes) by buying of those de-stickered ex-traffic cop Senator 24vs that they always used to have in Car Giant for £3K. He fitted a roof rack and would wear his hi-viz jacket (legit as was a fellow dock worker). Apparently he could sit at 80 in the motorway fast lane all day long and the cars in front would see hiim approach and get out of the way,  Bet it would still work today. What would you think if you saw the front of this in your rear view?

 

Are the vehicles that traffic departments use these days all similar enough? I don't know about elsewhere but around here they're constantly changing. 

[hauserplenty]

In the USA, amber lights are permitted, as are spotlights. But they cannot be used while the vehicle is in motion. Red lights are used on ambulances and fire trucks, red & blues mean police, regardless of agency. The old-school bubblegum machines are obsolete, and have been replaced with lower-profile LED'S. Sometimes they are mounted inside the cars, forward of the sunvisors. It gives stealth as well as better mileage. Also a rear-facing amber array is installed on CHP cars, which flashes in the direction they want you to go to avoid them. If you have any color lights other than amber on your roof, they must be covered.

[UltraWomble]

 CHP cars, 

Got a blue light on your roof? Then your ass is mine....

[Cheggers]

Anyone else watched this programme? I'm just watching an episode for the first time and I can't tell if it's satire or not. Speaking of lighting regs is there any way a private security firm could legitimately use amber lights?

It's brilliant viewing and not a satire. They're a real company and "Fearless Francis" is as bright as he comes across on telly.

[Taff]

It's brilliant viewing and not a satire. They're a real company and "Fearless Francis" is as bright as he comes across on telly.

 

I had no idea it was legit, I genuinely thought it was a fictional series and the next Office or somesuch.

 

I think it's even funnier knowing it's real. And Rachel would get it.

[Matt]

It's brilliant viewing and not a satire. They're a real company and "Fearless Francis" is as bright as he comes across on telly.

 

I don't know if it being real makes it better or worse. The tiny office with fold out tables and low rent old Volvos (not that there's anything wrong with that...) made me question what was going on. Hardly giving themselves a great image in that regard.

 

Also in that case I'm pretty certain that I didn't see a single blue SIA badge on any of them. Working in security without your blue badge easily visible is not cricket.

[John F]

Louise2cv, on 10 Dec 2015 - 08:34 AM, said:Louise2cv, on 10 Dec 2015 - 08:34 AM, said:

 

But according to the road vehicle lighting regs:

 

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/regulation/16/madeEmergency vehicleâ€Â

A motor vehicle of any of the following descriptions–

 

a. a vehicle used for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes;

b. an ambulance, being a vehicle (other than an invalid carriage) which is constructed or adapted for the purposes of conveying sick, injured or disabled persons and which is used for such purposes;

c. a vehicle owned by a body formed primarily for the purposes of fire salvage and used for those or similar purposes;

d. a vehicle owned by the Forestry Commission or by a local authority and used from time to time for the purposes of fighting fires;

e. a vehicle owned by the Secretary of State for Defence and used–

(i) for the purposes of the disposal of bombs or explosives,

(ii) by the Naval Emergency Monitoring Organisation for the purposes of a nuclear accident or an incident involving radioactivity,

(iii) by the Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue Service for the purposes of rescue operations or any other emergencies, or

(iv) by the Royal Air Force Armament Support Unit;

f. a vehicle primarily used for the purposes of the Blood Transfusion Service provided under the National Health Service Act 1977(8.) or under the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978(9);

g. a vehicle used by Her Majesty’s Coastguard or Coastguard Auxiliary Service for the purposes of giving aid to persons in danger or vessels indistress on or near the coast;

h. a vehicle owned by the British Coal Corporation and used for the purposes of rescue operations at mines;

i. a vehicle owned by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and used for the purposes of launching lifeboats; and

j. a vehicle primarily used for the purposes of conveying any human tissue for transplanting or similar purposes.

 

Epic. Looks like it would be possible to fit flashing blue lights to a vehicle belonging to an organisation that picks fag-ends out of ashtrays & gives the salvaged tobacco to tramps, then.

[Richard]

Anyone else watched this programme? I'm just watching an episode for the first time and I can't tell if it's satire or not. Speaking of lighting regs is there any way a private security firm could legitimately use amber lights?

What is the programme called?

[scaryoldcortina]

Rent a Cop.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06mypvn/episodes/guide

[Bobthebeard]

Ok... To recap.

The Mercury has been done out in NYPD livery for the purpose of 'special event hire' Not to just randomly drive it around like a wanabee cop! I am doing this as a means to hopefully supplement our dwindling income. I do see that some may find what I have done with the car to be in poor taste, but in fairness it was done for the above reason. The daily driver duties will be either the Prelude or the Oldmansmobile (once it is returned to health).

 

On the Mercury all the POLICE wording will be covered by white magnetic vinyl patches when on public roads, plus the blue/red lightbar will either be in the boot or covered up for road use. I have had a lot of helpful advice from on here and, eventually from the local police. (The local Police person has actually been complimentary and mostly encouraging)

I have stretched my finances badly of late ( ahem, buying this and the Oldsmobile) so am hoping that some monies will come back next year hiring it out for whatever.

Insurance is the next thing... Hire and reward etc!

[eddyramrod]

Well I'll tell you what, BTB... good luck with it!   I'm right with you.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Proper Hire or Reward insurance requires the car to correctly licensed with your Local Authority, which unless you have the most lenient Council in Britain is unlikely to happen due to LHD, Age and general unsuitability for Private Hire. You would have to be a licensed PH driver too.

I have to give about £900 per year to my Local Authority plus another £1200 for insurance just for the privilege* of being allowed to work.

I should think your best bet would be a classic policy with added 'occasional ' wedding use, as weddings or funerals are the only time you can drive someone for money without coming under some sort of licensing regime.

[Lord Sterling]

I have a friend who is a motorbike mounted police officer in London. She owns a Mk1 G-reg ex-met 827i. It was a real police car. When driving it to shows she covers up the roof-mounted lights, the POLICE lettering on the side and I think even the crest. This is obviously because no member of the public can harras her whikst she driving to shows.

 

Serving police officers actually on duty can drive historic police vehicles to shows and they can also be used for normal police work if the officer driving the car is called to an incident. I think there was a youtube video showing an SD1 during the arrest of a suspect in London a couple of years ago.

 

I impersonate police officers whenever I get pulled. Ya' know, giving it the 'hard-man' policeman stance; thumbs tucked in vest just under shoulders, 'stanced' standing, chest out a bit to make myself appear bigger, voice lowered whikst questioning about whether it's thier car and have they any ID. It's probably why I'm on first name terms with the desk sergeant...

[PiperCub]

Thing is, you don't need decals, strips etc, on a bike. I've had my white and red Yamaha 350YPVS for over 20 years and in those days I used to always wear a white lid (for some reason, I only use black now), if I put a fluoro motorway jacket over my black leathers and boots, you'd be amazed how cars scatter out of the way and see you coming from quite a distance.

 

 

One amusing incident springs to mind whilst so-dressed, coming up alongside a then-new Vauxhall Carlton with some suited Johnny inside babbling away on his phone not paying any attention to the road or anything (so no change to half the road users today then).

He glances over to his right as I come alongside him at the roundabout and throws the phone (seriously, he literally hurled it) into the passenger footwell then slams both hands on the wheel and adopts the straight-ahead look, ie: if I don't look at him, he won't see me. 

I gave him a wave and zapped off through the roundabout leaving him considering the futility and empty nature of his life.

Laugh? - Yes I did.

[warren t claim]

I have quietly looked into this before, some years ago. IIRC you're not allowed the word "Police" on the car, nor blue lights. Lights are easy, you just shove the bar in the trunk, but the wording needs to be dealt with at the graphic-planning stage really. It would seem that "Sheriff," "State Trooper" or "Highway Patrol" should be ok.

Speaking as a former employee of the Sheriff Of Chester I can strongly advise that the term 'Sheriff' has a different meaning in the UK and all his agents had to drive Vauxhalls.

[hauserplenty]

...which R ALL SHIT.

 

Cuff 'em an' stuff 'em, Cletus!

[martc]

.... thumbs tucked in vest just under shoulders, 'stanced' standing, chest out a bit to make myself appear bigger, voice lowered ....

 

"Evenin' all"  you are Dixon of Dock Green AICMFP

[purplebargeken]

Where ya gonna put the Taser?

 

I so want a Taser just to zap all the gormless fuckwits round Edmonton. Trouble is I'd have depleted the thing in about 5 minutes.

 

Maybe I need two then. If I was a local cop I may well hold the universe record for most taser deployments evah. 

[Guest p71interceptor]

Eddyramrod. Good morning. just to correct you on the Crown Vic police car pic. The car is a genuine michigan state police car and not a replica. It's a 2004 p71 interceptor.

[chaseracer]

I wish to install a "Winkworth gong" to the front of a Wulzey Six-Ninety.  Are there any legal issues I should be aware of?

 

[Jim Bell]

"My names Glen and I'm a detective sergeant now, my mams a nurse and my brothers called Alan."

 

That's my impersonation of someone I went to school with.

 

Do your worst, Law.

[Pete-M]

I'm not Dibble, but a lad who lives near me got into deep shiznít for driving around in an ex-Dibble Discovery which was still in full Dibble livery. The lad driving it claimed it was a 'historical society exhibition piece on the way to a display of ex-forces vehicles', and tried to get away with it based on the fact that the blue lights were covered up, and he'd stuck magnetic letter 't's over the C in Police.

 

I remember the lad being very pissed off about it. He was fined about £700 and told to strip all the blue lights and Dibble Insignia from his Disco.

 

He was being a bellend. He used to drive the Disco to work in full livery except for a blue 'not in use' bag over the light bar, and wearing a yellow Hi-Viz jacket. Membership of the Historic Police Vehicle section of the Land Rover Owners Club does not give you permission to commute in a fake cop car.

 

He drives a dark coloured late spec BMW 3 series now, naturally he's tried to make it look like an unmarked Dibble one with suspect led light strips in the grille etc.

[Slartibartfast]

Eddyramrod. Good morning. just to correct you on the Crown Vic police car pic. The car is a genuine michigan state police car and not a replica. It's a 2004 p71 interceptor.

 

I love that someone came here and registered just to make this one comment.

[Bobthebeard]

"I remember the lad being very pissed off about it. He was fined about £700 and told to strip all the blue lights and Dibble Insignia from his Disco. He was being a bellend. He used to drive the Disco to work in full livery except for a blue 'not in use' bag over the light bar, and wearing a yellow Hi-Viz jacket. Membership of the Historic Police Vehicle section of the Land Rover Owners Club does not give you permission to commute in a fake cop car."

 

 

Can understand why that was unacceptable being a UK car in full livery. Mine is an american car in american livery. Police wordage covered in plain white magnetic strips and light bar in the boot (magnetic mountings for easy fitting and removal) at all times on the road... Plus no Hi-Viz ever...

Looks nothing like a 'real' UK police car.

[danthecapriman]

I really can't see you getting in any trouble with that. Like you say it doesn't resemble a uk police car or livery at all. And you've even gone over and above by getting some covers for the wording and light bar.

 

It does look bloody good though!

[Bobthebeard]

Thanks Dan. A lot of time, money and paint was invested!

😄

[Mr_Bo11ox]

 

He drives a dark coloured late spec BMW 3 series now, naturally he's tried to make it look like an unmarked Dibble one with suspect led light strips in the grille etc.

 

Actual LOL. Why would someone go to the bother of making their own car look like an unmarked police car? Whats the logic?

[eddyramrod]

Eddyramrod. Good morning. just to correct you on the Crown Vic police car pic. The car is a genuine michigan state police car and not a replica. It's a 2004 p71 interceptor.

Even better!  Thank you for the correction, and the excuse to repost the snap...

It's a most impressive pice of kit and I hope to see it again often!

 

Oh and welcome to the forum too

 

Edited to add: apologies for the confusion in my head too.