Unmarked Cars in London
Discussion
I live in Luton and for the first time (in Luton) I saw two unmarked police cars, first one a black 07 Audi A4 on my way home from work yesterday and a 56 black E90 3 series BMW this morning on my way to work. Both were going opposite directions with blues and twos going so couldn’t see the engine size.
johnnywb said:
Frequently see unmarked cars in London with a small blue light on the roof and lights behind the grill. Never seen them anywhere else i've lived and just wondered who they are? Are they just general unmarked cars or something specific?
I expect it's Von on his way to the panini shop.Best wishes all,
Dave.
Vesuvius 996 said:
johnnywb said:
Frequently see unmarked cars in London with a small blue light on the roof and lights behind the grill. Never seen them anywhere else i've lived and just wondered who they are? Are they just general unmarked cars or something specific?
I think they are SO19 (armed)DPG (diplomatic proection group) cars are all red. They are all armed officers
Normal ARV's are silver BMW's with a yellow dot on the front and rear windscreen.
The unmarked cars you've seen can be from any one of a number of places.
Our driving school uses unmarked cars, typically Mondeos and BMW's although there are some different ones out there.
Most of the SO departments use unmarked cars including the flying squad.
Finally, each london borough has its own quota of 'Q' cars for proactive policing and general unmarked patrol.
So in answer to your question, it really could have been any of the above.
Normal ARV's are silver BMW's with a yellow dot on the front and rear windscreen.
The unmarked cars you've seen can be from any one of a number of places.
Our driving school uses unmarked cars, typically Mondeos and BMW's although there are some different ones out there.
Most of the SO departments use unmarked cars including the flying squad.
Finally, each london borough has its own quota of 'Q' cars for proactive policing and general unmarked patrol.
So in answer to your question, it really could have been any of the above.
Figured it was probably a load of depts. Saw a couple haring around Parsons Green last night 3 up with a couple of marked cars as well, gussed they might have been something like robbery squad judging by the way they were pulling in and out of roads as though they were looking for someone?
Also, never understood the 'randon' fluoroescent dots on some of the market cars, do the serve a specific purpose or simply there to increase visibility?
Also, never understood the 'randon' fluoroescent dots on some of the market cars, do the serve a specific purpose or simply there to increase visibility?
vonhosen said:
7db said:
I thought the ARVs were red.
DPG are red, ARVs normal car colours (silver). Both are armed.There are huge numbers of unmarked cars equipped with blue lights etc, used by a wide variety of departments.
Those diplomats must need a lot of kebabs.
johnnywb said:
Figured it was probably a load of depts. Saw a couple haring around Parsons Green last night 3 up with a couple of marked cars as well, gussed they might have been something like robbery squad judging by the way they were pulling in and out of roads as though they were looking for someone?
Also, never understood the 'randon' fluoroescent dots on some of the market cars, do the serve a specific purpose or simply there to increase visibility?
I can only speak for the met here. Our ARV's have yellow dots on the windscreens. Pandas (marked cars without sirens and the wig wag) have an orange dot on the windscreen. Also, never understood the 'randon' fluoroescent dots on some of the market cars, do the serve a specific purpose or simply there to increase visibility?
Both are there so those in the know will be aware of the type of vehicle and what it can and can't do.
Of course, all other marked cars have a big orange dot on the roog along with three letters. That's the air identification marking for the chopper.
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