Unmarked black Ford Rangers with blues and twos

[Gilbertd]

A couple of weeks ago I was driving around the Peterborough ring road when a pair of unmarked black Ford Ranger pickups came the other way with concealed blues (behind the grille and inside the sidelights the same as an unmarked police car) flashing and two tones on. Didn't look like the sort of vehicle that the police would use, too far away from the coast to be Coastguard so figured they could well be bomb disposal. Then last week on the southbound A1 approaching Sandy (Beds) one came past me. Same as before, blues, flashing headlamps and siren going but displaying normal plates (AE68) rather than military so not likely to be bomb disposal.

Just curious but anyone know who they are?

[rodericb]

Cashed up walts?

[Gilbertd]

When I saw the first one I thought it could be someone trying it on, but when there was another identical one about 1/4 mile back, thought they must be legit. Install looked too professional, concealed blues inside the rear lights too. 68 plate would be too new for a walt too.

Edited by Gilbertd on Tuesday 4th May 23:17

[Parbold milkperson]

could be Fire SERVICE or military police

[Gilbertd]

Wouldn't military police be on military plates though? Although I suppose that would defeat the object of unmarked cars.....

[Parbold milkperson]

or a training unit for emergwcy service drivers. how many passengers were they carrying

[super7]

Why would it not police? Rural area? Plenty of need for a unmarked pick-up. Petfect for towing farm kit, blending in with workmen, sheep rustling etc… thames valley have plenty of L200’s…. Why not a ranger?

[Parbold milkperson]

Gilbertd said:

Wouldn't military police be on military plates though? Although I suppose that would defeat the object of unmarked cars.....

could be that RMP run a course open to Home Office nomimated organisations for example

[Gilbertd]

You're right, could be. First time I saw them was in Cambs force area and the second time was in Beds, so I discounted that. But thinking about it, the ARVs and heli are shared between Cambs, Beds and Herts so could be for rural use.

[Parbold milkperson]

Fire service and ambulance do need to train or convert drivers for blue light certification, so it figures it could be a JOINT service body.

I have seen Merseyside fire service appliances marked up with Driver under instruction outside their force area

[Spanglepants]

Saw same thing today BMW X5 and 5 series, black with blue lights in grill and back windows.

[Parbold milkperson]

Gilbertd said:

A couple of weeks ago I was driving around the Peterborough ring road when a pair of unmarked black Ford Ranger pickups came the other way with concealed blues (behind the grille and inside the sidelights the same as an unmarked police car) flashing and two tones on. Didn't look like the sort of vehicle that the police would use, too far away from the coast to be Coastguard so figured they could well be bomb disposal. Then last week on the southbound A1 approaching Sandy (Beds) one came past me. Same as before, blues, flashing headlamps and siren going but displaying normal plates (AE68) rather than military so not likely to be bomb disposal.

Just curious but anyone know who they are?

the RLC operate the bomb disposal vehicles. the RLC have a base at Grantham don't they further up the A1. you could be right that it is training for RLC drivers.

[mybrainhurts]

I guess you couldn't see in the back?

Obvious answer is plod, loaded with the day's doughnuts.

[Johnspex]

I've seen a beaten up old Leyland Sherpa with blues and twos and a ladder on the roof. No, it wasn't the fire and rescue. Also a newish Transit crewbus with blues.

[DaveyBoyWonder]

Personal trainers in a rush to get somewhere?

[Earthdweller]

Our firearms unit had a couple of these, and Toyota pickups, also the kit vans can be pretty old and battered as they don’t do much if any mileage. There’s also cars, some armoured and unmarked MPV’s like Vito’s

We had a 13 year old Iveco panel van all laddered up with full emergency kit fitted that had less than 5k on the clock

They also have four of these ....

[cmvtec]

There's all sorts of utterly random stuff out there kitted with blues.

The fire service springs to mind as their senior officers tend to have blues on their own cars so you see some interesting ones. If there were two, though, I'd be leaning toward police.

[stongle]

Border Force use them.

[ecsrobin]

Gilbertd said:

You're right, could be. First time I saw them was in Cambs force area and the second time was in Beds, so I discounted that. But thinking about it, the ARVs and heli are shared between Cambs, Beds and Herts so could be for rural use.

Helicopter is a national asset and has been for quite a few years.

Coastguard use liveried vehicles as does bomb disposal. Border force is a good shout.

[m3jappa]

mybrainhurts said:

I guess you couldn't see in the back?

Obvious answer is plod, loaded with the day's doughnuts.

I dont reckon its that, being a pick up its more likely its loaded with the ingredients to make the doughnuts. Probably on their way to a commercial kitchen to make them for the day. Blues on as they were late with todays order.