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A NEW FORM OF PRISON VAN.

13th November 1928
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Page 12, 13th November 1928 — A NEW FORM OF PRISON VAN.
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Keywords : Door, Sliding Door

The Latest Type of Motor Black Maria Provides Safer and More Convenient Travelling for Prisoners and Personnel.

FOR: some time past the authorities at Scotland Yard have had under consideration the question of putting into service a more modern form of motor prison van which would be safer in operation, of better appearance; and which would provide improved accommodation for the passengers, and, withal, be considerably cheaper than the older pattern.

In the particular example which we illustrate, and for which the engineer of the Metropolitan Police, Major T. H. Vitty, T.D. M.I.Mech.E., A.M.I.E.E., is responsible, it will be seen that the chassis is on pneumatic tyres, which enables the van to be run at much higher speeds than was the case with the old solid-tyred vehicle.

In the model which this new van may eventually supplant there are open grills to the doors, and these permit prisoners to communicate with each other by signs. This has been obviated in the new type by the employment of louvres in the doors, so arranged that the inside of the cell can be easily inspected from the corridor, whilst the prisoner cannot see across the corridor and communicate with the occupant of the opposite cell.

One important point is concerned with the safety of the persons carried, as well as with that of the attendants. This is the emergency door at the rear, which is doublelocked and not intended for ordinary use, but could easily be opened in case of accident or fire.

The main entrance is by a door at the near-side front, there being a second door which, in this ease, slides in the partition between the driver's cab and the centre aisle of the body. All the occupants sit in their cells facing forward, and they have more space than formerly, the bottom of the partition between each cell being also sot forward so that considerable additional space is allowed for the feet. This also applies to that section of the partition behind the driver's seat, whilst in the case of the cell immediately next to the entrance, special provision is made to give an extra few inches without intruding excessively into the entrance space. In addition to two warders and the driver, the accommodation provides for 10 prisoners, each in separate cells. These cells are 2 ft. square.

The first vehicle to be put into service is mounted on a 30-ewt. Guy chassis with a Wheelbase of 11 ft. 6 ins.

It is interesting to note that

the exterior panels are of i-in. armoured plywood w I t Ii . the metal sur

f ace outside. The interior lining is in the same material but with the metal showing inside. Oneinch tongued and grooved English oak is utilized for the floor, whilst the sides of the floor in the cells are constructed with a 1-in, fall towards the gangway to permit draining after washing. There are two gulleys, 2 ins, wide, immediately outside the cell doors and extending to the extreme front and rear. These gulleys terminate in drain pipes, two at each end, which are let through the floorboards and so arranged that the water is carried outside and well clear of the chassis frame. The gangway itself has longitudinal hardwood slats, in which are trap doors to permit chassis inspection, although fixed in such a way that they cannot easily be removed. The cell partitions have ash frames, 11 'ins, thick, panelled with double-sided armoured plywood. Wired glass, in. thick, immediately under the raves affords a certain amount of light. The doors are strongly constructed of oak, framed and ranelled, an d mounted on

stout brass hinges fixed en the gangway side. Each door has a slam lock and a dead lock, and no keyholes appear inside the cells. The cell seats are of '....2=2Z.0111V6Mtr-• hardwood, 1 ft.

wide, 1 ft. 10 ins. high and 1 in. thick.

The rest of the windows in the vehicle are made of Triplex glass ; this applies also to the windscreen, which has an adjustable top quarter. The doors of the driver's cab have windows of the drop type.

The driver's seat does not extend beyond the centre llne. of the body, and it is cut away for some distance at its back to give space for the sliding door. This portion of the seat is also hinged to give easier access to the corridor. .

The roof is of silver spruce, 14 ins, thick, tongued and grooved and supported on ash hoopsticks. It extends in a full curve over the driver's cab. The headroom along the centre of the corridor is 6 ft. 3 ins., whilst at the' entrance of the cells it is 5 ft. 9 ins. There are roof lights in the corridor and these are combined with Airvac ventilators. Ventilation of the cells is assisted by allowing 6 ins, of free space above and below each door.

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People: T. H. Vitty

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