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Experimental Vans for London's Police

19th March 1929, Page 51
19th March 1929
Page 51
Page 51, 19th March 1929 — Experimental Vans for London's Police
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General Utility Vehicles Designed to Deal with a Variety of Emergencies.

ATEAR by year the duties of the Metropolitan Police become mope extensive, and the growth of. Oreater London, with the care of its increasing population, introduces new tasks almost weekly.

Considerable publicity has been given to the kiosk system which is being installed. Under this ,plan kiosks will be available at conveniently situated points for the use of police officers and, if necessary, of members of the public. Information can be telephoned to the local centre where responsible officers can deal at once with any emergencies which may arise.

In conjunction with these kiosks, experimental vans are being employed. At present there are two of them, and, should they prove satisfactory, it is anticipated that they will be put into service in greater numbers. The term general utility" is the best description of the sphere of work for whieh they have been designed. In the ease of an individual prisoner who has to be transported to the local station, or an intoxicated person, the one-man coil incorporated in the body of each van can be utilized. The vehicle is available as an ambulance, if necessary, and, in case of vehicular collisions, it can be despatched at once to assist to clear the read or, in other ways, to obviate obstruction. It is equipped for day and night service with a very full kit of tools, which should make its operators capable of dealing with a large number of emergencies.

It must be understeod= that these vehicles are not destined to carry out repairs to damaged machines, but merely to enable men to tow to one side of the read a cause of obstruction, or to lift a vehicle which may be pinning down an injured person. They may also be of assistance in cases of fire. Skid chains are provided for work in areas where unmade roads are Likely to cause ditching. "

Morris-Commercial chassis are employed; these were supplied by Stewart and Ardern,. Ltd., which concern also provided the coachwork; but the blue cellulose finish was applied in the works of the Metropolitan Police.

On the front of the driver's cab is an illuminated " IVI.P." sign, and an ambulance-type electrical gong is provided ; these assist the rapid passage of the vehicle through. congested areas. The window in each side is of the sliding type, and there is a communication window between the driver's cab and the body interior. Triplex glass is used throughout. Two roof lightf ore provided,

fo the driver's cab there are two Pyrene fire-extingnishers, and refills are carried in Cille of the under-seat lockers. A police lamp is carried in the cab in a quickly operated clip, whilst there are two spotlights on the upper rear corners of the vehicle, that on the off

side being quickly detachable and provided with an internal cable reel device to enable it to he carried to a point several yards away from the vehicle for inspection purposes.

On the off si,de, a longitudinal seat runs the full length of the body interior, whilst that on the near side is shorter, the difference being accounted for by the one-man cell at the front end. A plain wooden seat is provided for the Prisoner. On the front bulkhead is a cupboard which houses a first-aid outfit and a supply of drinking water. Both the main scats have quickly detachable cushions, but the padded back rests are fixed to the hotly sides.

Tinder the off-side scat are carried a stretcher, crowbar and splints, together with a large wooden toolbox which houses wedges, a hacksaw, chisels, files, etc, which may be required for breaking away damaged vehicles. Under the near-side seat are housed ropes, towing shackles, picks and shovels, hatchets, steel rollers, a bottle jack and general impedimenta required to facilitate roadclearing operations after an accident.

From the foregoing it will be gathered that the type of vehicle in question is capable of dealing With many emergencies with which the police are faced, and the assistance which it can give should obviate, in certain cases, the need for calling in help from other public services, such as the fire brigade. This has had to be done occasionally-in the past on account of the suitable equipment being in the possession of some other authority.

The vans have a smart appearance and should be capable of towing for the matter of a short distance (which is all that is required in the ease of accident, as a rule) almost any vehicle.

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Locations: London

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