Strange BiB Convoy - Leicestershire
Discussion
Evening all,
Firstly, apologies for a bit of a boring post, but I'm curious
I was driving home tonight on the A46 round the north side of Leicester, usual heavy traffic on that stretch, when blue lights appeared behind me.
There was a parting of the waves, as a convoy of police vehicles came up the middle of the two lanes.
There was a fully liveried/striped BMW 5 series at the front all strobes/lights/sirens blazing.
Behind this, followed three white Merc Sprinters & two grey Merc Vitos. All of these had no markings/stripes at all. They had blacked out windows in the sliding and back doors. The front blue strobes were behind the grilles, and they had strobes in the rear light clusters. All five had sirens on. If the strobes and sirens were off, you'd struggle to spot they were BiB.
Bringing up the rear was another liveried 5 series, with 'Do Not Overtake' scrolling on a sign in the back window.
Anyone know what this convoy might be conveying?
Cheers, Craig.
Firstly, apologies for a bit of a boring post, but I'm curious
I was driving home tonight on the A46 round the north side of Leicester, usual heavy traffic on that stretch, when blue lights appeared behind me.
There was a parting of the waves, as a convoy of police vehicles came up the middle of the two lanes.
There was a fully liveried/striped BMW 5 series at the front all strobes/lights/sirens blazing.
Behind this, followed three white Merc Sprinters & two grey Merc Vitos. All of these had no markings/stripes at all. They had blacked out windows in the sliding and back doors. The front blue strobes were behind the grilles, and they had strobes in the rear light clusters. All five had sirens on. If the strobes and sirens were off, you'd struggle to spot they were BiB.
Bringing up the rear was another liveried 5 series, with 'Do Not Overtake' scrolling on a sign in the back window.
Anyone know what this convoy might be conveying?
Cheers, Craig.
Not sure if the same ones but I saw two convoys on the m42 late afternoon today, first one sound like yours. Second one was 6 -8 marked motorcycles, 2 jankels (?) that seemed to be towing something then 6/7 white vans with flashing blue lights. Very odd but would be interested to know what they were
horpetelegraph.co.uk/articles/news/a...I saw a convoy very similar to what your describing (Except with motorcycle outriders) last tuesday southbound on the M11 in the morning (about8:30) then northbound that evening at 4:30/5 oclock, second time we saw it they also had a range rover of some description with them though
Very odd - we said it was probably arabs going shopping in london or something
Very odd - we said it was probably arabs going shopping in london or something
GuyGhibli said:
Linky suffered death by swear filter. 
Ben205 said:
I saw a convoy very similar to what your describing (Except with motorcycle outriders) last tuesday southbound on the M11 in the morning (about8:30) then northbound that evening at 4:30/5 oclock, second time we saw it they also had a range rover of some description with them though
Very odd - we said it was probably arabs going shopping in london or something
That's almost certainly the Met Police Special Escort Group, they use motorcycle outriders to stop traffic up ahead and then the main convoy of Range Rovers and 5 series blast through after and the rear vehicle always has the "do not follow" matrix sign in the back. You can tell it's the SEG because the guys on the motorbikes use whistles as their bikes do not have sirens and they are also the only motorbike cops who are openly armed.Very odd - we said it was probably arabs going shopping in london or something
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Escort_Group_...
Impressive skill required to avoid never coming to a halt in central London
http://vimeo.com/39253278
http://sc u nthorpetelegraph.co.uk/articles/news/article/19997258
Impressive skill required to avoid never coming to a halt in central London
http://vimeo.com/39253278
slippery said:
Linky suffered death by swear filter.
Resurrected (some adjustment required first) http://sc u nthorpetelegraph.co.uk/articles/news/article/19997258
Edited by Red Devil on Wednesday 30th October 11:37
A FIREARMS training exercise is due to take place at the former RAF base in Kirton in Lindsey.
The training will involve police forces from the East Midlands, starting tomorrow (Tuesday, October 29) and running until Thursday, October 31.
The firearms training will not involve any live ammunition, but residents have been warned to expect some disruption.
A spokesman for the East Midlands' police forces said: "We can confirm that East Midlands’ Police Forces will take part in a training exercise.
"It has not been prompted by any specific past, present or anticipated events. Because our staff have free access to the media, it is not our intention to release any information at this stage which might prejudice the response of those who are involved."
A letter has been sent to residents by police, informing them of the training exercise.
The letter says that the pre-planned exercise is designed to "test and strengthen the response of the police and partner agencies in event of a major incident".
It also writes: "Members of the public are assured that during the exercise, they will not experience any reduction in the quality of service provided and this exercise has no impact on day to day policing.
"The exercise is funded as part of existing training and will not affect local policing budgets.
"Firearms officers are taking part in the training exercise, although no live ammunition will be used at any stage of the exercise and there is no risk to public safety.
"Members of the public are not actively involved in any part of the exercise and all elements of the exercise are subject to an extensive risk-assessment.
"Every effort has been made to keep disruption to a minimum. Some elements of the activity may be heard by the public. However, this will be limited, risk assessed and appropriately managed."
In March this year a military training exercise took place at the former RAF base, organised by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
The MoD admitted at the time that it failed to warn residents in Kirton about the exercise on the former air base, which led to large bangs being heard across the town.
Military personnel were moved off the base in May 2012, but its future is yet to be decided.
The town council is waiting for the former air base to be handed over by the MoD, with the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) looking most likely to take control of the site.
The training will involve police forces from the East Midlands, starting tomorrow (Tuesday, October 29) and running until Thursday, October 31.
The firearms training will not involve any live ammunition, but residents have been warned to expect some disruption.
A spokesman for the East Midlands' police forces said: "We can confirm that East Midlands’ Police Forces will take part in a training exercise.
"It has not been prompted by any specific past, present or anticipated events. Because our staff have free access to the media, it is not our intention to release any information at this stage which might prejudice the response of those who are involved."
A letter has been sent to residents by police, informing them of the training exercise.
The letter says that the pre-planned exercise is designed to "test and strengthen the response of the police and partner agencies in event of a major incident".
It also writes: "Members of the public are assured that during the exercise, they will not experience any reduction in the quality of service provided and this exercise has no impact on day to day policing.
"The exercise is funded as part of existing training and will not affect local policing budgets.
"Firearms officers are taking part in the training exercise, although no live ammunition will be used at any stage of the exercise and there is no risk to public safety.
"Members of the public are not actively involved in any part of the exercise and all elements of the exercise are subject to an extensive risk-assessment.
"Every effort has been made to keep disruption to a minimum. Some elements of the activity may be heard by the public. However, this will be limited, risk assessed and appropriately managed."
In March this year a military training exercise took place at the former RAF base, organised by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
The MoD admitted at the time that it failed to warn residents in Kirton about the exercise on the former air base, which led to large bangs being heard across the town.
Military personnel were moved off the base in May 2012, but its future is yet to be decided.
The town council is waiting for the former air base to be handed over by the MoD, with the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) looking most likely to take control of the site.
A former work colleague had a relative in the RAF and on occasions they had “security” exerices to test the base security –access etc involving the SAS as the intruders. After the first occasion and some of the practices involved when the next one was due it was surprising the number of personnel who went off “sick” the week beforehand.
After that they decided to keep future events a much close guarded secret
After that they decided to keep future events a much close guarded secret
Red Devil said:
Nope, you were doing it wrong. The previous poster has found it for you.
It still comes up when the spaces are removed and the link copied + pasted into Google search.
I copied and pasted into my address bar and removed the spaces, so the address itself is invalid (though it may have been valid in the past), although it does still show when Googled.It still comes up when the spaces are removed and the link copied + pasted into Google search.
I apologise that my first instinct when presented with a URL is not to Google it.
Though I were technically sort of correct on my assumption that it were some sort of armed assault convoy. I'm not sure if the blacked out vans are supposed to be inconspicuous.. they may as well sticker them up.
Edited by scarble on Wednesday 30th October 15:12
tehguy said:
they are also the only motorbike cops who are openly armed.
Apart from the two Diplomatic Protection Officers I shared a coffee with in a Service Station Costa on the North Circular a few weeks ago, they were on R1200RTP's which I assumed made them Traffic but apparently not, they were Diplomatic Protection normally based in central London but have to come up North in the silent hours to make some checks on I assume some rather plush residences.SEG are using VFR1200's now with no battenburg or retroreflective.
Edited by mel on Wednesday 30th October 16:45
Red Devil said:
Impressive skill required to avoid never coming to a halt in central London
http://vimeo.com/39253278
Close call at 14:10, didn't look like the rider even flinched!http://vimeo.com/39253278
Very impressive work, they make that look much easier than it can possibly be.
The one I saw had no bikes with it.
The one I saw could have been the first one that gjf764 saw. Could have gone M42/M6/M69/M1/A46? Would fit time-wise (17:45ish).
I doubt it was the one twocolours saw - They wouldn't have been A46 North (where I saw them) if they were heading to M1 J27, would they?
Appears these are more common than I thought!
The one I saw could have been the first one that gjf764 saw. Could have gone M42/M6/M69/M1/A46? Would fit time-wise (17:45ish).
I doubt it was the one twocolours saw - They wouldn't have been A46 North (where I saw them) if they were heading to M1 J27, would they?
Appears these are more common than I thought!
tehguy said:
That's almost certainly the Met Police Special Escort Group, they use motorcycle outriders to stop traffic up ahead and then the main convoy of Range Rovers and 5 series blast through after and the rear vehicle always has the "do not follow" matrix sign in the back. You can tell it's the SEG because the guys on the motorbikes use whistles as their bikes do not have sirens and they are also the only motorbike cops who are openly armed.
Interesting. I was sitting outside a cafe in Lewes, East Sussex, a few weeks ago when a convoy led by these whistling bikers came charging down the part-pedestrianised precinct (straight past the brewery shop!). God knows where they were headed as it's pretty much a dead end beyond, but they didn't return.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff