Tracing an ex police vehicle, used in close protection.

Tracing an ex police vehicle, used in close protection.

Author
Discussion

cliffords

Original Poster:

2,363 posts

36 months

Tuesday 6th May
quotequote all
A family member has just purchased a green Discovery 4, with the compulsory failed engine . He's a cleaver lad he will fix it or replace it .

When doing the history checks and now looking at the paperwork we can see it's ex police , close protection vehicle on a 2012 plate .

It would be great to know a bit more , was it following around a royal family member a politician etc . Any thoughts on how to go about that ?

It's currently sat on my drive looking a bit sad and even with the suspension now down , they are massive cars.

edthefed

778 posts

80 months

Wednesday 7th May
quotequote all
How do you know its ex "close protection".

Forces do not routinely disclose what role unmarked vehicles have been used for, and the information might not be up to date or correct.

My old force had 1 x "close protection" vehicle, albeit we did not have any "protected persons" residing in our area and if more vehicles were needed they would be hired in / loaned by manufacturers who loved a bit of product placement.

When not needed for "close protection" work it was used for other stuff like training, recces, transport, even prisoner escort and it also had at least two sets of registration plates.

For the London based "protected people" the protection is provided by the MET who travel far and wide with the principal so many forces dont have large "close protection fleets or depts

cliffords

Original Poster:

2,363 posts

36 months

Wednesday 7th May
quotequote all
edthefed said:
How do you know its ex "close protection".

Forces do not routinely disclose what role unmarked vehicles have been used for, and the information might not be up to date or correct.

My old force had 1 x "close protection" vehicle, albeit we did not have any "protected persons" residing in our area and if more vehicles were needed they would be hired in / loaned by manufacturers who loved a bit of product placement.

When not needed for "close protection" work it was used for other stuff like training, recces, transport, even prisoner escort and it also had at least two sets of registration plates.

For the London based "protected people" the protection is provided by the MET who travel far and wide with the principal so many forces dont have large "close protection fleets or depts
Thanks for the reply .There is paperwork in the vehicle showing service history,stating the force and the vehicle role as close protection. Also when it was sold at auction it shows the police division that sold it .

I am basically looking for a picture of the Queen getting out accompanied by Elton John and at least one corgi, nothing else will do .
The thought of prisoner transport would explain what an utter tip the previous owner left it inside .

edthefed

778 posts

80 months

Wednesday 7th May
quotequote all
2012 plate would likely have been decommissioned in 2017 / 8 so the previous owner had many years to trash it.

I suspect any of the normal modifications were removed prior to it being sold by the force

Your best bet might be to search Google /Flickr but as i said previously it may well have had a set of ghost plates fitted.

A number of forces did use dark green Discoveries in similar roles about 2012 - austerity was beginning to bite and Discos were cheaper than the previously favoured Range Rovers.

Even the MET SPG only have 1 x marked Range Rover now and thats on a 67 plate


paul_c123

483 posts

6 months

Wednesday 7th May
quotequote all
edthefed said:
Even the MET SPG only have 1 x marked Range Rover now and thats on a 67 plate
Are the rest Dacia Dusters?

ralphrj

3,782 posts

204 months

Wednesday 7th May
quotequote all
cliffords said:
The thought of prisoner transport would explain what an utter tip the previous owner left it inside .
Possible Prince Andrew's then...?

edthefed

778 posts

80 months

Wednesday 7th May
quotequote all
OP which force was it - i might have some further information

MOMACC

477 posts

50 months

Wednesday 7th May
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What's the reg?

cliffords

Original Poster:

2,363 posts

36 months

Wednesday 7th May
quotequote all
edthefed said:
OP which force was it - i might have some further information
Hi. It was the Met police.

To the post below. I am not able to post the registration. It's not my car and the owner, my son, doesn't know I am looking for this info. Albeit it's a long term ornament on my drive right now.

The Gauge

4,394 posts

26 months

Wednesday 7th May
quotequote all
cliffords said:
I am basically looking for a picture of the Queen getting out accompanied by Elton John and at least one corgi, nothing else will do .
No, it'll be Prince Andrew and his friend Epstein.

PRO5T

5,442 posts

38 months

Wednesday 7th May
quotequote all
The Gauge said:
cliffords said:
I am basically looking for a picture of the Queen getting out accompanied by Elton John and at least one corgi, nothing else will do .
No, it'll be Prince Andrew and his friend Epstein.
Better than being Wayne Couzens' flasher-mobile.

edthefed

778 posts

80 months

Thursday 8th May
quotequote all
cliffords said:
Hi. It was the Met police.

To the post below. I am not able to post the registration. It's not my car and the owner, my son, doesn't know I am looking for this info. Albeit it's a long term ornament on my drive right now.
If its the MET i cant help -my force did have a 12 plate dark green Discovery for the VIP unit but i was not MeT.

As with many things what you see of a VIP escort "on the day" is only the tip of the iceberg and the result of an awful lot of pre planning / recces etc, all of which need vehicles.

Best i can suggest is to put the reg into some social media searches and see if anything comes up, or join some of the Facebook groups for ex police cars. But be aware it might have had "ghost plates" fitted at times