Hughesiecop - My day with Traf pol
Discussion
I had the absolute pleasure of being a civilian attachment to a Central London Traffic Unit, 01-BOD (call sign Charlie 2-4), yesterday evening.
Courtesy of Lambocop who swung it with his superiors and after signing all my rights away to sue them should I die during the day, the shift commenced with a tour of the garage based at Euston, right behind Euston Sauna if any of you know it
I arrived just before 3pm after the guys had done parade etc I was given the full tour, met the Guvnor (cheers again!) had a tour of the corridors of power (and viewed some interesting/horrific accident investigations on the walls) met the AIT (Accident Investigation Team) and generally said hello to as many people that LamboCop could introduce me too, Except the fit bird that ran the front office (next time mate!)
Then we moved onto the Fleet, Euston Central has a couple of Coloureds (unmarked Traf pol), an Omega and the new 5 series that was away on duty whilst I was there, 5/6 marked up 530d tourers and all of the associated equipment to fill, and I mean fill the boot, a couple of marked up Omega's (Traf pols preferred weapon of choice !!) 2/3 shoguns a couple of AIT vans and a fleet of ST1100's and BMW bikes.
Oh, and for all of you with Illegally spaced Number plates there was a wall full of Confiscated ones so be warned...
Then I met Martyn, Lambocops sidekick, and I mean sidekick for the day, as Lambocop was the Class 1 driver of the 2 he did all of the driving for the day.
Lambocop has been in the met for a number of years and in traffic for the last 2, Martyn has done 20 in service and lets everyone know he has
After I’d been given my instructions for the day (do as I say kind of things for my own safety) out we went.
Had an excellent demonstration of the Provida (speed Measuring) system on the way out to where we needed to be, including an outstanding demonstration on how it works from behind and if it were an unmarked car what happens if you overtake them whilst trying to get a reading from behind, be warned, this system is the dogs danglies !!
And it does work in the dark too
Its really disconcerting been sat in the back of a fully marked up Traf pol unit, everyone thinks your a criminal
The first couple of hours were quite quiet so we headed back to pick up a couple of lasers, calibrated them up (yes before we went out )and headed over to Hampstead for a spot of Lasering.
1st up was the old LTI 20 – even when we were calibrating it back in the garage it was difficult to get a none error reading, it was proving even more difficult out in the field, out of the 20 or so cars I tried it on out in Hampstead I managed to get about 3 readings.
Out came the Pro Laser then, what a difference, I was pinging every car with a speed sometimes at a distance of just under a 1000ft, so be warned, this thing works – Handed the Gun over to the guys and watched the Pro’s do it, it wasn’t long before the 1st bit of sensible policing I’ve seen for a while was been dispensed to a lady in a SAAB convertible doing enough over 30 to justify a warning, no ticket, just a check of her details. What amazed me was that she was a local, lived round the corner and knew it was a 30.
I wont tell you the exact road but lets just say this bit of road is 30 for a reason, a number of schools on it, parked cars either side and quite steep – The public make themselves and easy target on this road.
In came the next culprit, again, enough over 30 to warrant a word, if Lambocop wants to let you know his tugging speed I’ll let him but I was quite surprised at what people would/could get away with on this stretch of road, guy in a Chrysler Voyager sent off with a quick word and advice as to the dangers of speeding.
Sensible policing and not just because I was there !!
As we were heading back to grab some dinner my 1st blue light run of the day happened, a Traf pol Biker had pulled someone over and needed assistance at a traffic stop. So lights and sirens blaring off we headed in heavy early evening traffic to Russell Square/Bedford Row to offer our assistance.
Here we gave a driver a sobriety test (just like the ones you see in Police, Camera Action) as upon opening the car the smell of Skunk was getting me high 30 paces away
The Guy passed it and no illegal Subs were found, much to his relief and my disappointment
Headed back to Euston Central for some fish and chips and a quick break before we headed out onto the A40 to do some calibration on the elevated section to do some more speed measurement, just before we enter the elevated scetion we hear of an accident on the A40 at Gypsy Corner and we’re off again for a blue light run, a good run and we make quick time time an Escort that’s managed to enter the A40 clip a curb and stuff it into the outside lanes barrier – He’s ok, and yet slightly embarrased at the same time, was his dads care you know Shhhhh !!
We close down lane 3, and a rescue vehicle arrives to clear up the debris and off we head back into to town again…
All the Time Lambo and Martyn are looking our for speeding cars and dodgy vehicles the ANPR is working its magic away in the background, as we are heading through the West End off goes the ANPR siren on the car infront – Not allowed to stop it as Met Pol wants intel on the car so after following for a while we head off back to the garage, our shift over.
I’d love to regail you all with car chases and bodies in the road, but LamboCop assures me this was the quietest shift for a long time, but for me it was a real eyeopener, I got to see up close what these guys do on a daily basis, they make themselves busy and they have the toys to help them.
Keep it up fellas, all of you !
Hughesiecop, Over & out….
>> Edited by FourWheelDrift on Friday 2nd December 18:01
Courtesy of Lambocop who swung it with his superiors and after signing all my rights away to sue them should I die during the day, the shift commenced with a tour of the garage based at Euston, right behind Euston Sauna if any of you know it
I arrived just before 3pm after the guys had done parade etc I was given the full tour, met the Guvnor (cheers again!) had a tour of the corridors of power (and viewed some interesting/horrific accident investigations on the walls) met the AIT (Accident Investigation Team) and generally said hello to as many people that LamboCop could introduce me too, Except the fit bird that ran the front office (next time mate!)
Then we moved onto the Fleet, Euston Central has a couple of Coloureds (unmarked Traf pol), an Omega and the new 5 series that was away on duty whilst I was there, 5/6 marked up 530d tourers and all of the associated equipment to fill, and I mean fill the boot, a couple of marked up Omega's (Traf pols preferred weapon of choice !!) 2/3 shoguns a couple of AIT vans and a fleet of ST1100's and BMW bikes.
Oh, and for all of you with Illegally spaced Number plates there was a wall full of Confiscated ones
so be warned... Then I met Martyn, Lambocops sidekick, and I mean sidekick for the day, as Lambocop was the Class 1 driver of the 2 he did all of the driving for the day.
Lambocop has been in the met for a number of years and in traffic for the last 2, Martyn has done 20 in service and lets everyone know he has
After I’d been given my instructions for the day (do as I say kind of things for my own safety) out we went.
Had an excellent demonstration of the Provida (speed Measuring) system on the way out to where we needed to be, including an outstanding demonstration on how it works from behind and if it were an unmarked car what happens if you overtake them whilst trying to get a reading from behind, be warned, this system is the dogs danglies !!
And it does work in the dark too
Its really disconcerting been sat in the back of a fully marked up Traf pol unit, everyone thinks your a criminal
The first couple of hours were quite quiet so we headed back to pick up a couple of lasers, calibrated them up (yes before we went out
)and headed over to Hampstead for a spot of Lasering. 1st up was the old LTI 20 – even when we were calibrating it back in the garage it was difficult to get a none error reading, it was proving even more difficult out in the field, out of the 20 or so cars I tried it on out in Hampstead I managed to get about 3 readings.
Out came the Pro Laser then, what a difference, I was pinging every car with a speed sometimes at a distance of just under a 1000ft, so be warned, this thing works – Handed the Gun over to the guys and watched the Pro’s do it, it wasn’t long before the 1st bit of sensible policing I’ve seen for a while was been dispensed to a lady in a SAAB convertible doing enough over 30 to justify a warning, no ticket, just a check of her details. What amazed me was that she was a local, lived round the corner and knew it was a 30.
I wont tell you the exact road but lets just say this bit of road is 30 for a reason, a number of schools on it, parked cars either side and quite steep – The public make themselves and easy target on this road.
In came the next culprit, again, enough over 30 to warrant a word, if Lambocop wants to let you know his tugging speed I’ll let him but I was quite surprised at what people would/could get away with on this stretch of road, guy in a Chrysler Voyager sent off with a quick word and advice as to the dangers of speeding.
Sensible policing and not just because I was there !!
As we were heading back to grab some dinner my 1st blue light run of the day happened, a Traf pol Biker had pulled someone over and needed assistance at a traffic stop. So lights and sirens blaring off we headed in heavy early evening traffic to Russell Square/Bedford Row to offer our assistance.
Here we gave a driver a sobriety test (just like the ones you see in Police, Camera Action) as upon opening the car the smell of Skunk was getting me high 30 paces away
The Guy passed it and no illegal Subs were found, much to his relief and my disappointment
Headed back to Euston Central for some fish and chips and a quick break before we headed out onto the A40 to do some calibration on the elevated section to do some more speed measurement, just before we enter the elevated scetion we hear of an accident on the A40 at Gypsy Corner and we’re off again for a blue light run, a good run and we make quick time time an Escort that’s managed to enter the A40 clip a curb and stuff it into the outside lanes barrier – He’s ok, and yet slightly embarrased at the same time, was his dads care you know
Shhhhh !! We close down lane 3, and a rescue vehicle arrives to clear up the debris and off we head back into to town again…
All the Time Lambo and Martyn are looking our for speeding cars and dodgy vehicles the ANPR is working its magic away in the background, as we are heading through the West End off goes the ANPR siren on the car infront – Not allowed to stop it as Met Pol wants intel on the car so after following for a while we head off back to the garage, our shift over.
I’d love to regail you all with car chases and bodies in the road, but LamboCop assures me this was the quietest shift for a long time, but for me it was a real eyeopener, I got to see up close what these guys do on a daily basis, they make themselves busy and they have the toys to help them.
Keep it up fellas, all of you !
Hughesiecop, Over & out….
>> Edited by FourWheelDrift on Friday 2nd December 18:01
Boosted Ls1 said:
Just spoken with my brother in law who's on traffic. He's spent the last 3 months training drivers etc. He even said he sticks to the exact speed limits nowadays. He never used to! Maybe he's been brainwashed
Boosted.
Good grief, he must be driving like a maniac then. No way there is an opportunity to get up to the limits around our way, other than on motorways (if lucky) and he odd good dual carriageway at quiet times.
I had the pleasure of having a similar day with Hampshire Traffic OCU a couple of weeks ago, and can confirm that it was very interesting.
Best bit was a 120mph blue light run and a tour of the Tactical Firearms Unit.
'Would you like to hold this gun?'
'Sure!'
'Great. Now how about this bigger one?'
And so on.
Glad you had fun too!
Best bit was a 120mph blue light run and a tour of the Tactical Firearms Unit.
'Would you like to hold this gun?'
'Sure!'
'Great. Now how about this bigger one?'
And so on.
Glad you had fun too!
BliarOut said:
Now that's why we want TrafPol on the roads, not scameras. Sensible application of the law based on the circumstances, not the numbers.
Interesting day
Interesting you should say that as the Met Traf Pol has a new Boss who shares the same sentiments as N yorks/Cheshire etc etc etc...
[quote]Not allowed to stop it as Met Pol wants intel on the car so after following for a while we head off back to the garage, our shift over.[/quote]
Kinda worrying, so they want info but ANPR goes off, eiter no tax, ins or MoT and it gets to carryon it's merry way. Info or not, I think that's just wrong.
Kinda worrying, so they want info but ANPR goes off, eiter no tax, ins or MoT and it gets to carryon it's merry way. Info or not, I think that's just wrong.
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