September 18, 2008Print this page
A comprehensive comparative trial is underway at Northumbria Police of the Vauxhall Astra as a beat car following delivery of 56 supplied to full police specification. The Astra is one of two models currently listed within the Police National Framework for the beat car role.
A key part of the trial is the replacement of the entire fleet of beat cars in two of the Force’s six area commands. This should result in more accurate feedback from officers using the cars as it will remove any element of preference for the Astra or the competitor model against which it is being evaluated.
Force Fleet Manager Keith Wilson says that the exercise will not only test the reaction of officers to Astra, but look at aspects of reliability in the demanding beat car role, servicing and repair in the Force workshops, and the performance of key items of equipment fitted to the vehicles, some of which is new to the Force.
The Astras are a mixture of hatchback and estate models. Forty eight are hatchbacks with 1.3 CDTi engines, whilst eight are 1.7 CDTi estates – the latter chosen for the additional space they provide needed to carry Taser equipment. They are the first Vauxhall products to join Northumbria’s 1,100 vehicle fleet in significant numbers for many years.
A dramatic reduction in delivery lead times has also resulted from choosing the Astra. Previously the Force would expect the time from placing an order to delivery to be around six months, but this has been cut to just six weeks by the conversion of the Astras to full police specification by GM UK Special Vehicles at their Millbrook base in Bedfordshire.
The Astras were delivered to Northumbria Police in a complete finished condition that includes Battenberg stripes, a siren, LED flashing lightbar, an incident data recorder, wiring and aerial for the radio equipment, tax and first registration. All that remained for the Force to do was fit the radio, put its corresponding call sign onto the vehicle roof, and to apply the Force crest.
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gmeurope
A key part of the trial is the replacement of the entire fleet of beat cars in two of the Force’s six area commands. This should result in more accurate feedback from officers using the cars as it will remove any element of preference for the Astra or the competitor model against which it is being evaluated.
Force Fleet Manager Keith Wilson says that the exercise will not only test the reaction of officers to Astra, but look at aspects of reliability in the demanding beat car role, servicing and repair in the Force workshops, and the performance of key items of equipment fitted to the vehicles, some of which is new to the Force.
The Astras are a mixture of hatchback and estate models. Forty eight are hatchbacks with 1.3 CDTi engines, whilst eight are 1.7 CDTi estates – the latter chosen for the additional space they provide needed to carry Taser equipment. They are the first Vauxhall products to join Northumbria’s 1,100 vehicle fleet in significant numbers for many years.
A dramatic reduction in delivery lead times has also resulted from choosing the Astra. Previously the Force would expect the time from placing an order to delivery to be around six months, but this has been cut to just six weeks by the conversion of the Astras to full police specification by GM UK Special Vehicles at their Millbrook base in Bedfordshire.
The Astras were delivered to Northumbria Police in a complete finished condition that includes Battenberg stripes, a siren, LED flashing lightbar, an incident data recorder, wiring and aerial for the radio equipment, tax and first registration. All that remained for the Force to do was fit the radio, put its corresponding call sign onto the vehicle roof, and to apply the Force crest.
read more
gmeurope
That's a terrific beast. Any plans of launching such high end vehicles in the Indian market?