Police Cars – Not British made- WHY?
Discussion
It has occurred to me that our police forces mainly buy foreign manufactured cars such as BMW, Volvo, Ford Mondeos, Vauxhall Insignia, Mercedes vans. Why is this??
Surly our police force should be buying British made cars to support our economy. Other European countries police forces support local manufacturers.
There are options such as Nissan Qashqai, perfectly reasonable car for day to day police business, or within cities, the Honda Civic, Nissan Juke or even the Leaf. Motorway patrols and for larger police car needs, the Land Rover Discovery or Jaguar F-Pace or XF. For vans, the Vauxhall Vivaro.
If you visit other European countries the police always drive locally made cars such as in France, Peugeots and Citroens, Italy, Fiats and Alfas, Spain, Seats.
Come on Police, start supporting our local economy and contributing to local employment like other European countries.
Surly our police force should be buying British made cars to support our economy. Other European countries police forces support local manufacturers.
There are options such as Nissan Qashqai, perfectly reasonable car for day to day police business, or within cities, the Honda Civic, Nissan Juke or even the Leaf. Motorway patrols and for larger police car needs, the Land Rover Discovery or Jaguar F-Pace or XF. For vans, the Vauxhall Vivaro.
If you visit other European countries the police always drive locally made cars such as in France, Peugeots and Citroens, Italy, Fiats and Alfas, Spain, Seats.
Come on Police, start supporting our local economy and contributing to local employment like other European countries.
Blakes003 said:
It has occurred to me that our police forces mainly buy foreign manufactured cars such as BMW, Volvo, Ford Mondeos, Vauxhall Insignia, Mercedes vans. Why is this??
Surly our police force should be buying British made cars to support our economy. Other European countries police forces support local manufacturers.
There are options such as Nissan Qashqai, perfectly reasonable car for day to day police business, or within cities, the Honda Civic, Nissan Juke or even the Leaf. Motorway patrols and for larger police car needs, the Land Rover Discovery or Jaguar F-Pace or XF. For vans, the Vauxhall Vivaro.
If you visit other European countries the police always drive locally made cars such as in France, Peugeots and Citroens, Italy, Fiats and Alfas, Spain, Seats.
Come on Police, start supporting our local economy and contributing to local employment like other European countries.
They have to secure what's both fit for purpose & provides value to the tax payer.Surly our police force should be buying British made cars to support our economy. Other European countries police forces support local manufacturers.
There are options such as Nissan Qashqai, perfectly reasonable car for day to day police business, or within cities, the Honda Civic, Nissan Juke or even the Leaf. Motorway patrols and for larger police car needs, the Land Rover Discovery or Jaguar F-Pace or XF. For vans, the Vauxhall Vivaro.
If you visit other European countries the police always drive locally made cars such as in France, Peugeots and Citroens, Italy, Fiats and Alfas, Spain, Seats.
Come on Police, start supporting our local economy and contributing to local employment like other European countries.
There are procurement procedures set out to do that.
The UK gov used to only buy British cars, irrespective of whether they were only good.
Is that a good thing for the car companies? BLs back catalogue would suggest probably not - it certainly doesn't drive innovation.
The decision on what to buy will be based on how well it fits the role (obviously), but also cost - partially up front, but also in terms of running costs (and who will look after them), lifespan of the vehicle and potential resale cost.
I'm sure the procurement docs are online if you want to see how it works out.
From what I understand, BMW stand up very well on the price front.
If you think they should spend more to buy an objectively worse vehicle - why not just give the car companies a direct subsidy instead...?
Is that a good thing for the car companies? BLs back catalogue would suggest probably not - it certainly doesn't drive innovation.
The decision on what to buy will be based on how well it fits the role (obviously), but also cost - partially up front, but also in terms of running costs (and who will look after them), lifespan of the vehicle and potential resale cost.
I'm sure the procurement docs are online if you want to see how it works out.
From what I understand, BMW stand up very well on the price front.
If you think they should spend more to buy an objectively worse vehicle - why not just give the car companies a direct subsidy instead...?
Blakes003 said:
It has occurred to me that our police forces mainly buy foreign manufactured cars such as BMW, Volvo, Ford Mondeos, Vauxhall Insignia, Mercedes vans. Why is this??
Surly our police force should be buying British made cars to support our economy. Other European countries police forces support local manufacturers.
There are options such as Nissan Qashqai, perfectly reasonable car for day to day police business, or within cities, the Honda Civic, Nissan Juke or even the Leaf. Motorway patrols and for larger police car needs, the Land Rover Discovery or Jaguar F-Pace or XF. For vans, the Vauxhall Vivaro.
If you visit other European countries the police always drive locally made cars such as in France, Peugeots and Citroens, Italy, Fiats and Alfas, Spain, Seats.
Come on Police, start supporting our local economy and contributing to local employment like other European countries.
They use Vauxhall Astras generally, as Panda Cars.Surly our police force should be buying British made cars to support our economy. Other European countries police forces support local manufacturers.
There are options such as Nissan Qashqai, perfectly reasonable car for day to day police business, or within cities, the Honda Civic, Nissan Juke or even the Leaf. Motorway patrols and for larger police car needs, the Land Rover Discovery or Jaguar F-Pace or XF. For vans, the Vauxhall Vivaro.
If you visit other European countries the police always drive locally made cars such as in France, Peugeots and Citroens, Italy, Fiats and Alfas, Spain, Seats.
Come on Police, start supporting our local economy and contributing to local employment like other European countries.
These are made in the UK are they not? Being a British manufacturer.
Moving to a Qashqai or Civic or Juke would directly remove money from British manufacturers pockets.
On the open roads. They generally use Volvos or BMW because they are powerful and designed for high speed driving. There is no UK manufacturer made equivalent, really.
Also, let's not forget, you need to convert the interior to use all of the police gubbins. Not very practical in an XF, when it's all screens and smooshy black plastic trim. Also they generally cost more, and are less reliable, with a worse dealer network.
Why not write to your MP and your local police chief.
grudas said:
because british made is not as good as german made? it's very simple.
And the German Police drive Mercedes, VW and Audi - makes sense but consider, the Italian police drive alfas and the French police drive Peugeot and Renault, they still support locally manufactured police cars even if they are shoddy. Why can't we? Blakes003 said:
And the German Police drive Mercedes, VW and Audi - makes sense but consider, the Italian police drive alfas and the French police drive Peugeot and Renault, they still support locally manufactured police cars even if they are shoddy. Why can't we?
Plenty of forces use Vauxhalls, Fords, there are even some Jags and Land Rovers.As others have pointed out, the tender processes are open, there's no big conspiracy as to what vehicles forces choose and inferring that there should be some nationalist bent towards a forces choice of vehicle seems a little limiting for them.
Blakes003 said:
grudas said:
because british made is not as good as german made? it's very simple.
And the German Police drive Mercedes, VW and Audi - makes sense but consider, the Italian police drive alfas and the French police drive Peugeot and Renault, they still support locally manufactured police cars even if they are shoddy. Why can't we? If they aren't fit for purpose or don't offer good value then they won't get chosen.
320d is all you need said:
They use Vauxhall Astras generally, as Panda Cars.
These are made in the UK are they not? Being a British manufacturer.
Moving to a Qashqai or Civic or Juke would directly remove money from British manufacturers pockets.
On the open roads. They generally use Volvos or BMW because they are powerful and designed for high speed driving. There is no UK manufacturer made equivalent, really.
Also, let's not forget, you need to convert the interior to use all of the police gubbins. Not very practical in an XF, when it's all screens and smooshy black plastic trim. Also they generally cost more, and are less reliable, with a worse dealer network.
Why not write to your MP and your local police chief.
Astras are made in the UK, good point and also good that we are supporting locally manufactured panda cars These are made in the UK are they not? Being a British manufacturer.
Moving to a Qashqai or Civic or Juke would directly remove money from British manufacturers pockets.
On the open roads. They generally use Volvos or BMW because they are powerful and designed for high speed driving. There is no UK manufacturer made equivalent, really.
Also, let's not forget, you need to convert the interior to use all of the police gubbins. Not very practical in an XF, when it's all screens and smooshy black plastic trim. Also they generally cost more, and are less reliable, with a worse dealer network.
Why not write to your MP and your local police chief.
grudas said:
because british made is not as good as german made? it's very simple.
A friend of mine who is a retired protection officer told me that the build of their spec BMW's over Jaguar Land Rover products was night and day better, mainly as the BMW's were built to their spec on the production line as opposed to the JLR product being built as per normal and then being taken apart to be re-fitted. Back to normal every day traffic car, such as a 5 Series or Volvo, what similar UK built offering is there? I suppose you could have a Land Rover product (are they even built in the UK?) instead of an X5 but I bet it'll be constantly off road being repaired.
West Yorkshire Police now use Peugeot for their standard cars, they put the procurement out to tender and they were the best value option, well actually they weren't as BMW offered a better deal but the decision makers were worried about public perception of all Police driving BMW's so that's why they went with Peugeot.
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