Police lorry

[smarty156]

I was driving along the A2 between Bexley and Dartford (towards M25) the other day and noticed lots of red and blue flashing lights ahead on the hard shoulder, some very high up. When I got near I realised it was a lorry on the hard shoulder (not articulated but with curtain sides) with flashing red and blue lights at the top and bottom corners of the rear. The lorry was all black apart from a large metropolitan police sticker on the driver's door. There was a normal car in front of it also on the hard shoulder and a police van in front of that.
Never seen a police lorry before with flashing lights and wondered what it was and what it is used for. Quite stealthy looking other than the door stickers. Anyone else seen it or know what it's used for?

[SiH]

I've heard the Police have a few artics that are used as Traffic 'cars' as the elevated height lets them see what's going on in cars and other HGVs. Not sure if this is entirely true but it kind of makes sense.

[n3il123]

SiH said:

I've heard the Police have a few artics that are used as Traffic 'cars' as the elevated height lets them see what's going on in cars and other HGVs. Not sure if this is entirely true but it kind of makes sense.

There is a tractor unit on in Northamptonshire (seen it pulling someone on the A45). I believe that the reasons above are what they're used for looking into truck cabs etc.

[anonymous-user]

I think it is an excellent idea. Whenever I get a lift in my mates VW T5 van I'm always amazed at how many people (on the motorway in particular) are playing with their phone in their laps thinking no one can see them.

[skylarking808]

Devon police used an articulated lorry cab on the A38 to catch naughty drivers.

An elevated position plus the element of surprise?
I would imagine there are a few other lorries/trucks for other uses.

[Harpoon]

One of the reality Police shows had an episode of a traffic unit (possibly on the M6) using a HGV tractor unit to look into cabs. IIRC, they saw one driver drinking tinnies and when stopped he was way over the DD limit.

[HantsRat]

Truck will be on loan from a truck company (for free) that does it way round the forces in the UK. Each force usually uses it for traffic ops catching phones, drivers watching films etc. Usually there is a spotter in the truck filming the evidence then a traffic car to come in a make the stop.

[smarty156]

Interesting. This wasn't an artic or just a tractor unit. Maybe it's cheaper though.

[smarty156]

HantsRat said:

Truck will be on loan from a truck company (for free) that does it way round the forces in the UK. Each force usually uses it for traffic ops catching phones, drivers watching films etc. Usually there is a spotter in the truck filming the evidence then a traffic car to come in a make the stop.

The odd thing was that I'm pretty sure we weren't in Met Police area (should have been Kent Police?) and it was a transit van that had stopped in front of the car, not traffic police.

[HantsRat]

smarty156 said:

The odd thing was that I'm pretty sure we weren't in Met Police area (should have been Kent Police?) and it was a transit van that had stopped in front of the car, not traffic police.

Police have power of constable in any area. Could simply be a joint traffic op between met/kent. I'm not saying they always have chase cars it just usually what's done. There's nothing to say a police truck can't stop a vehicle. It's probably more than likely the chase car had already left. If a van was there it suggests arrest/s were made.

[Cat]

Do the Met use contractors for forensic vehicle recovery or do they have their own vehicle(s)?

Cat

[Jakg]

The police often borrow HGV tractors for looking into HGV cabs - but they are just regular HGV's. Not normally trailers or lights or anything (unless for PR)



However, the met have odd vehicles that are used to provide some kind of confidential capability, e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZa8sNEEMlI

It would make sense for this to be available for use nationally, not just within London.

[Ninja59]

Highways england have three doing the rounds they are all mercedes actros in white.

Kent had one of them recently.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-supercabs-t...

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.kentlive.news/n...

[4x4Tyke]

Humberside have used a HGV tractor

https://uk.motor1.com/news/185919/unmarked-lorry-c...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-41877026/h...

Edited by 4x4Tyke on Thursday 12th April 15:20

[Type R Tom]

The Met have a tractor unit, gets used during "exchanging places" events where cyclists are put in the drivers seat so they can experience what a lorry driver can see.

Probably the most powerful vehicle the Met have!



https://www.ukhaulier.co.uk/news/road-transport/fl...

Edited by Type R Tom on Thursday 12th April 15:36

[vonhosen]

The Met have lots of LGVs.

[lawrencec]

Ive seen the curtain sider the side markers flash in red and blue

They are a couple of units floating around the uk it seem the forces share them they are easy to spot as you do not see many lorries runing with no trailer

[Seesure]

Just using the tractor unit has been a police tactic for a few years now, and IMHO a worthy expenditure of funds....


https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[grumpy52]

If it was black with police logos on the doors and beacons on the roof and rear panels it was probably from one of the specialist units or a support vehicle .
Kent do a lot of joint ops with The Met, Essex and Sussex .
Most people have seen the white DAF artic unit in use with various Forces around the country it was a 15 plate and was in conjuction with DVSA Highways England and Police .
The DAF has retired and has been replaced with a new Mercedes unit .
Most forces with mounted sections have rigid truck horse boxes and I believe the Met has one for transporting police dogs in numbers .

[akirk]

are you sure it wasn't this?