Police vans that look like normal vans?

[Garlick]

Had to be in central London today and something was going on as three Police vehicles passed me at London Bridge headed towards Tower Bridge with lights and sirens going.

Funny thing is these were white vans, plain white vans with blue lights in the grille. All were showing road dirt and one even had a roof rack, so they looked just like regular working vans, no roof-mounted blue lights, and drivers in civvies. Cars weren't moving out of the way as many didn't seem to realise these vans were where the sirens were coming from.

What are these for then, covert surveillance perhaps? Not Police maybe?

Vehicles were 1 x Renault Traffic type (roof rack) 1 x Astra and 1 x Transit (IIRC)

[slipstream 1985]

still to be stickered up in police colours? or maybe scared too be seen as police vehicals just now.

[Codswallop]

Maybe covert police personnel transport for raids on houses etc. where they don't want to attract attention before the raid?

[LHD]

Codswallop said:

Maybe covert police personnel transport for raids on houses etc. where they don't want to attract attention before the raid?

Unmarked vans are quite common.

Same as unmarked Shoguns, Discovery 4's and Range Rovers.

[Garlick]

Never knew plain vans were used as fast response.

Cool though, dirty and tatty enough to be a regular white van man but with hidden blues. Very effective.

[Six Fiend]

Spend enough time sitting in London and you'll see just about every shape and size of vehicle sprout blue lights and sirens

[Garlick]

Interesting.

All my time in London and I've never seen them. Would love to know exactly what the Met have on the fleet.

[The_Burg]

The VW vans can be moderately lively.
A friend of mine had an ex dibble VW van, 2.8 V6. Hilarious vehicle.
Sounded good and was pretty darn quick to around 115 leptons.
(Shame about the holes in the roof!)