Unmarked traffic cars
Discussion
Can any of the BiB enlighten us about how many unmarked traffic cars are typically operated, in comparison with marked cars ? Would it be a 1:10 unmarked:marked ratio for example ?
I'm just curious as there are people on the net in various forums who claim to see unmarked cars very regularly (like, on a daily basis), whereas I've hardly ever spotted one (which could be of course because I'm not looking hard enough).
I typically do about 10 miles a day on the M4, and rarely see a marked car either (and certainly not one that isn't already on its way somewhere with the blues going).
Fat Audi 80 said:
Whereabouts on the M4?
J10-J11 mostly, and also hardly ever see a marked car.
I did 40 miles a day on the M25 for a few years, and rarely came across a marked car then, either.
So sounds like I shouldn't expect to be able to spot a lot of unmarked cars, if the ratio's something like 15:1.
tw99 said:
So sounds like I shouldn't expect to be able to spot a lot of unmarked cars, if the ratio's something like 15:1.
Depends a lot on the force and their own chief constable's ideas...
My CC is very much into public reassurance and police presense...hence the higher proportion of marked traffic cars compared to unmarked ones.
However, there are still unmarked cars in dept like CID, crime squad, Auto-crime squad etc etc.
They are unlikely to be doing you for speeding offences, but any dangerous driving etc will be rewarded by a radio message to a marked police vehicle to perform the 'stop.'
>> Edited by Roadcop on Thursday 6th January 14:59
tw99 said:
Whereabouts on the M4?
J10-J11 mostly, and also hardly ever see a marked car.
I did 40 miles a day on the M25 for a few years, and rarely came across a marked car then, either.
So sounds like I shouldn't expect to be able to spot a lot of unmarked cars, if the ratio's something like 15:1.
Most bases have 6 marked vehicles and 2 unmarked ones. That is what 3MX has at the moment. 3MX covers the Reading area and the section you travel daily.
RP dept policy is to police the motorway on a fire brigade basis. That is why you do not often see them on the M4.
Unmarked cars are only used when the criteria for crewing the marked ones is fulfilled or a specific reason for using one is made to the patrol Sgt for that shift.
TVP have a Roads Policing Pro Active unit which are equipped with unmarked cars across the board. They have 6 with access to use other bases' vehicles if they defect one.
If you cvome across an unmarked patrol car on a motorway in TVP it will not be routinely patrolling the road. It will be using it to get from one Policing area to another. If you are unlucky and get caught up in a pro-active convoy on route to a concentrated patrol area, you may meet up to 4 or 5 in one hit
Sky are currently featuring TVP pro Active unit in a programme called Road Wars!
2 of the prominent crews are Pat Knight and Carl Lewis. During the mid 90's I crewed a RPU vehicle with Pat Knight for a time and a jolly good laugh it was too
I hope that enlightens you a little
The chances of getting caught by a marked RPU vehicle on the motorway are small. The chances of an unmarked one are even smaller (however if you are really unlucky and it does happen, you may have 4 or 5 together dealing with your misdemeanor)
Like Gone has confirmed, it's really down to the county.
My county is split into two...at my side we have two provincial towns and just short or 90 miles of motorway...
On my side of the county we have 12 x S60 saloons, 8 x V70 estates, 1 x Range Rover, 1 x Discovery, 1 x Unmarked Volvo V70 estate and 1 x Unmarked Skoda Octavia.
10 x Pan European M/cycles, 4 x R1100RT BMW motorcycles. 2 x Unmarked BMW m/cycles.
My county is split into two...at my side we have two provincial towns and just short or 90 miles of motorway...
On my side of the county we have 12 x S60 saloons, 8 x V70 estates, 1 x Range Rover, 1 x Discovery, 1 x Unmarked Volvo V70 estate and 1 x Unmarked Skoda Octavia.
10 x Pan European M/cycles, 4 x R1100RT BMW motorcycles. 2 x Unmarked BMW m/cycles.
gone said:
I hope that enlightens you a little
The chances of getting caught by a marked RPU vehicle on the motorway are small. The chances of an unmarked one are even smaller (however if you are really unlucky and it does happen, you may have 4 or 5 together dealing with your misdemeanor)
Cheers gone, very interesting.
I'm never anything like the fastest car on the motorway anyway, but it's useful to know how things work.
Roadcop said:
Like Gone has confirmed, it's really down to the county.
My county is split into two...at my side we have two provincial towns and just short or 90 miles of motorway...
On my side of the county we have 12 x S60 saloons, 8 x V70 estates, 1 x Range Rover, 1 x Discovery, 1 x Unmarked Volvo V70 estate and 1 x Unmarked Skoda Octavia.
10 x Pan European M/cycles, 4 x R1100RT BMW motorcycles. 2 x Unmarked BMW m/cycles.
...and the TripleS fleet consists of one unmarked Pug 406, and very smart it is too 'cos I always drive it carefully, but you knew that already.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
gone said:
Sky are currently featuring TVP pro Active unit in a programme called Road Wars!
2 of the prominent crews are Pat Knight and Carl Lewis. During the mid 90's I crewed a RPU vehicle with Pat Knight for a time and a jolly good laugh it was too
I always try to watch Pat & Carl scrote hunting in downtown Slough. Great TV IMO. You can see they have a 'nose' for dodgy vehicles too.
Our ratio for the North West London area is roughly 5:1.
Sometimes tho,we will put out 2 unmarked cars once we have 4 or 5 marked ones. Never more than that.
They are both Omegas but next month they are being replaced by two new 5 series BMWs.
Still hope to put a Pistonhead sticker on them
Sometimes tho,we will put out 2 unmarked cars once we have 4 or 5 marked ones. Never more than that.
They are both Omegas but next month they are being replaced by two new 5 series BMWs.
Still hope to put a Pistonhead sticker on them
We have roughly 5x marked cars 1x big 4 wheel drive like Shoguns, several marked bikes, and a plain car per traffic base and we have 5 of those. Generally they are Volvo V70 estates but we are going the diesel route from now on and are getting E class merc 320's.....ours arrives this week..woopee!
also amongst our plain cars is a mitsi evo 8 which is just racking up the boy racer speeders as they all want to race it!!!! arf arf
also amongst our plain cars is a mitsi evo 8 which is just racking up the boy racer speeders as they all want to race it!!!! arf arf
Boosted LS1 said:
1x plain bike,
With a very worn seat
boosted.
They'll be TRAIL bikes they wouldn't catch a trials bike and rider as they can go over some REALLY BIG obstacles. If I remember The Sheffield Trafpols tried catching one on Police Stop! and failed.
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