Discussion
Travelling down from York to Cambridge on the A1 today in torrential rain, I saw a couple of strange sights. First was going in the opposite direction (North) around the Doncaster area. Several marked police vehicles all with flashing blue lights on. One lead, three or four to the side and rear of two blue lorries (unmarked). They were 7.5 ton, box lorries (not sure of the proper terminology but not curtain sider) and with no windows (so not prisoner transport vehicles - I don't think they would transport people in vehicles without windows). Any idea what that was all about?
Also. Southbound somewhere between Grantham and Peterborough, a plain white Mercedes A Class (old style pre 2004 car) with blacked out windows, headlights and blues flashing with flashing reds and blues in the rear window. They were in a real hurry but struggling to get past traffic to the point were I followed directly behind them for several miles (thanks for clearing the way for me
). They were straddling the lanes to make other drivers aware but no-one seemed to notice. Should have been easy to spot them even in the rain (it was extremely heavy and visibility was consequently very poor). I saw them at least a mile before they caught me up. Any ideas?
Also. Southbound somewhere between Grantham and Peterborough, a plain white Mercedes A Class (old style pre 2004 car) with blacked out windows, headlights and blues flashing with flashing reds and blues in the rear window. They were in a real hurry but struggling to get past traffic to the point were I followed directly behind them for several miles (thanks for clearing the way for me
). They were straddling the lanes to make other drivers aware but no-one seemed to notice. Should have been easy to spot them even in the rain (it was extremely heavy and visibility was consequently very poor). I saw them at least a mile before they caught me up. Any ideas?roofer said:
The blue box lorries probably came out of Debden carrying cash. Can't help with the old Merc, but quite possibly a Fire officers own car.
Debden? What goes on there? I'll Google it immediately. They must have had a lot of cash on board to have an escort like that.I think it was the fact that the Mercedes was so old that made me question it. Sounds like a plausible explanation but would they be allowed to have flashing headlights and blues (there were no sirens although I bet they wished there were - if only to get people shifted out of the way)!
CharlieAlphaMike said:
Debden? What goes on there? I'll Google it immediately. They must have had a lot of cash on board to have an escort like that.
I think it was the fact that the Mercedes was so old that made me question it. Sounds like a plausible explanation but would they be allowed to have flashing headlights and blues (there were no sirens although I bet they wished there were - if only to get people shifted out of the way)!
The De La Rue Debden Security Printing Ltd I think it was the fact that the Mercedes was so old that made me question it. Sounds like a plausible explanation but would they be allowed to have flashing headlights and blues (there were no sirens although I bet they wished there were - if only to get people shifted out of the way)!
Looks reasonably secure
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.6469573,0.090577...
Edited by CharlieAlphaMike on Friday 16th September 23:01
CharlieAlphaMike said:
The De La Rue Debden Security Printing Ltd
Looks reasonably secure
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.6469573,0.090577...
That's my roof, circa 1988 Looks reasonably secure
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.6469573,0.090577...
Edited by CharlieAlphaMike on Friday 16th September 23:01
CharlieAlphaMike said:
CharlieAlphaMike said:
Debden? What goes on there? I'll Google it immediately. They must have had a lot of cash on board to have an escort like that.
I think it was the fact that the Mercedes was so old that made me question it. Sounds like a plausible explanation but would they be allowed to have flashing headlights and blues (there were no sirens although I bet they wished there were - if only to get people shifted out of the way)!
The De La Rue Debden Security Printing Ltd I think it was the fact that the Mercedes was so old that made me question it. Sounds like a plausible explanation but would they be allowed to have flashing headlights and blues (there were no sirens although I bet they wished there were - if only to get people shifted out of the way)!
Looks reasonably secure
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.6469573,0.090577...
Edited by CharlieAlphaMike on Friday 16th September 23:01
CharlieAlphaMike said:
imagineifyeswill said:
I would be very doubtful that any off the emergency services would be using a vehicle as old as 2004 or with blacked out windows and a Mercedes A class to boot, hardly a great performer.
I saw it with my own eyes...Presumably the same lorries as these seen in the city on their way to the Bank of England?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxS8Zlbj5Hw
The old A class may be some walt especially given lack of siren, but remember not all covert/unmarked vehicles are traffic cops or normal response cops. Certainly in the Met, surveillance teams and other squads etc will use lots of random stuff that you'd never spot including some horrible old sheds like that. Fire and ambulance senior officers will get lights and sirens fitted in their own cars although I'm sure there were rules on the age of them
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxS8Zlbj5Hw
The old A class may be some walt especially given lack of siren, but remember not all covert/unmarked vehicles are traffic cops or normal response cops. Certainly in the Met, surveillance teams and other squads etc will use lots of random stuff that you'd never spot including some horrible old sheds like that. Fire and ambulance senior officers will get lights and sirens fitted in their own cars although I'm sure there were rules on the age of them
Hobnobgti said:
Presumably the same lorries as these seen in the city on their way to the Bank of England?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxS8Zlbj5Hw
Looked exactly the same.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxS8Zlbj5Hw
The Bank of England say The polymer £5 note weighs around 0.7g
7 tons / 0.7g = 9 071 847.4 units
So about £45 Million
7 tons / 0.7g = 9 071 847.4 units
So about £45 Million
CharlieAlphaMike said:
The De La Rue Debden Security Printing Ltd
Looks reasonably secure
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.6469573,0.090577...
You can't go past with the google streetview, for obvious reasons.Looks reasonably secure
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.6469573,0.090577...
Amusingly if you zoom out though some wag has labeled the building as "Clintons: Special occasion cards and branded gifts".
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