Under Cover Traffic Police in the North East

[Wedg1e]

SMKurt said:

Spotted a undercover biker on the A19 this evening. Silver bike. Touring type. Had a box on each side of it. Rider had a black jacket with white lid. Undertook us in the wrong lane then quickly before jumped lanes to be infront of us, naughty naughty!

Very hard to spot him i bet cause i only noticed as he went past the window that he had POLICE written on his lid.

The bike looked very very simler to this, same colour. Almost exactly the same exept for the big box on the top of the rear.

Not surprising; most of not all of the UK forces have decommissioned their previous barge the Honda ST1300 on orders from above. A couple of officers died riding them and of course it's the bike's fault, so they've all been replaced, in Cleveland's case with BMWs similar to the one above (but smaller )

Right up to the point you mentioned a white helmet I thought you'd spotted me Even sounds like my riding style...

[Ebo100]

Saw a blue unmarked VW touran with blue and twos northbound on A19 near the Yarm on Saturday

[M15ley]

Navy blue Volvo S80 on TVTE again yesterday, he had pulled a silver transit van on Kingsway and then parked up again waiting for his next victim - be careful out there.

[Citizen09]

Wedg1e said:

A couple of officers died riding them and of course it's the bike's fault

Didn't some indpendent tests show that the equipment/pole at the rear of the bike were sufficient to cause "weave" in some circumstances, which grew worse with increasing speed?

I can't remember where I read that, as it was a few years ago.

[ad111s]

ad111s said:

catch the pigeo said:

Dark blue vectra didnt see the reg had somebody
stopped on a19 near dalton park last night

Also pulled someone in Seaham last night 08 plate

Plate begins YY08

[PeteG]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

Just been in to Darlo Train Station and saw two BIB getting in to a Gunmetal Focus estate with dog grate. Number Plate EA59. Lights in the grill / front window etc.

Followed me half way back to Yarm

BTP perhaps?

[hale992]

last week i was followed by a black 3 series between shildon and spennymoor didnt think much of it till he put his blue flashy lights on and took off down the road my missus made a joke about the reg i think it was along the lines of nk09fke.

[Wedg1e]

Citizen09 said:

Wedg1e said:

A couple of officers died riding them and of course it's the bike's fault

Didn't some indpendent tests show that the equipment/pole at the rear of the bike were sufficient to cause "weave" in some circumstances, which grew worse with increasing speed?

I can't remember where I read that, as it was a few years ago.

It's almost certainly aerodynamic; even civvy STs can be provoked to weave at varying speeds depending on what luggage fitted, how high the screen is, how big the rider is, whether you're carrying a pillion, tyre type and pressure etc etc.
Honda did a recall that involved fitting rubber sheeting inside the fairing to change some of the airflow, along with vented crashbar covers etc.
It's not, as has been reported, the weight of the 'Police equipment'; after all, what could they carry that would weigh more than your 16-stone mate and a full set of luggage?
I find the weave acts as a handy speed-limiter: after all, how long could you really get away with travelling at 130+

[BillyT1903]

Cleveland police have at least one of each colour vRS both new shape (FL) and old except for yellow and anthracite, both hatchbacks and estates. See them regular on A66, A19 and around m/bro town centre

[timlongs]

White Focus on a 55 plate, was driving round the Sunningdale estate. Certainly was unexpected. (Sunningdale near Yarm, by the way)

[chrissyr32]

Nearly all of Durhams force cars marked and unmarked begin with "NK" on the number plate.

[z4me]

Indeed, saw an unmarked gray 3 series touring, beginning NK59, in Chester le Street last week. Even has a GB sticker on the rear bumper for added authenticity.

[williskwl]

Same with northumbria police. Most of their undercover cars are fords and they get them registered at scotswood road ford as far as I know. All of their cars even the vans are "NK" so round here generally easy to spot! --until they get new stuff of course

[Citizen09]

chrissyr32 said:

Nearly all of Durhams force cars marked and unmarked begin with "NK" on the number plate.

z4me said:

Indeed, saw an unmarked gray 3 series touring, beginning NK59, in Chester le Street last week. Even has a GB sticker on the rear bumper for added authenticity.

williskwl said:

Same with northumbria police. Most of their undercover cars are fords and they get them registered at scotswood road ford as far as I know. All of their cars even the vans are "NK" so round here generally easy to spot! --until they get new stuff of course

Most forces "ghost" their unmarked cars regularly - i.e. each has a number of different plates which can be used on it, and not all (or even most) start with the same two letters each time.

[PeteG]

Citizen09 said:

Most forces "ghost" their unmarked cars regularly - i.e. each has a number of different plates which can be used on it, and not all (or even most) start with the same two letters each time.

Cleveland's unmarked cars have always had the same numbers every time I see them...

[Citizen09]

PeteG said:

Citizen09 said:

Most forces "ghost" their unmarked cars regularly - i.e. each has a number of different plates which can be used on it, and not all (or even most) start with the same two letters each time.

Cleveland's unmarked cars have always had the same numbers every time I see them...

What about when you don't see them?

[MonkeyHanger]

Citizen09 said:

Most forces "ghost" their unmarked cars regularly - i.e. each has a number of different plates which can be used on it, and not all (or even most) start with the same two letters each time.

I could give you the numbers of most of Cleveland's unmarked fleet, which have been on the same cars since they were delivered from the supplying Dealers, but that would be pointless

[Citizen09]

I did say "most" forces, not "all".

[insanojackson]

MonkeyHanger said:

Citizen09 said:

Most forces "ghost" their unmarked cars regularly - i.e. each has a number of different plates which can be used on it, and not all (or even most) start with the same two letters each time.

I could give you the numbers of most of Cleveland's unmarked fleet, which have been on the same cars since they were delivered from the supplying Dealers, but that would be pointless

rubbish , sometimes surveillance cars and soca cars, but unmarked traffic cars are definetley not ghosted.

[killsta]

insanojackson said:

MonkeyHanger said:

Citizen09 said:

Most forces "ghost" their unmarked cars regularly - i.e. each has a number of different plates which can be used on it, and not all (or even most) start with the same two letters each time.

I could give you the numbers of most of Cleveland's unmarked fleet, which have been on the same cars since they were delivered from the supplying Dealers, but that would be pointless

rubbish , sometimes surveillance cars and soca cars, but unmarked traffic cars are definetley not ghosted.

Indeed, and the amount of incorrect info in this thread is amazing! Especially about the cars certain forces are 'apparently' using.