Met tests Sherpas
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• All heavy-duty, armourplated Sherpa 300 minibuses have been withdrawn from service with the Metropolitan Police for tests to find the cause of a "shudder" during emergency braking.
"We have withdrawn 160 minibuses, used to ferry police officers, as a result of concern expressed by some officers over the suitability of the Sherpa 300 for high-speed driving," say the police. "We are now waiting for the results of tests on the vehicles."
The armour-plated Sherpas are manufactured and equipped by Freight Rover which, say the police, has given the minibus a clean bill of health. The Metropolitan Police engineers have sent Freight Rover a statement, saying: "The vehicles were found to exhibit a tendency (like other light CVs) to rear-wheel lift under emergency braking, particularly when in a laden condition.
"This causes an unpleasant shudder in the vehicles which is uncomfortable for the passengers."
The statement concludes: "This condition, even at its worst, does not impair the safety of the vehicle, which can stop quickly in a straight line."
Freight Rover says the vehicles conform to all national types of approval, including braking requirements. It is currently looking into the problem with the Metropolitan Police.