Report from Chris Malkin



The first batch of ten Level One Protected Carriers is now being posted to divisions. Another batch of seven carriers are currently being converted and these should be on the road in Spring 2017.

The final ten carriers will be converted during late summer and will be on the road in autumn 2017 giving Lancashire a fleet of 27 Level One Protected Carriers.

The most distinctive feature of these carriers is that there is no windscreen guard on the front of the vehicle instead we have fitted a polycarbonate based screen called KASIGLAS made by a company called KRD Coatings. This screen is shock and impact resistant and as such is impenetrable to attack from bricks, sledgehammers, pick axes and anything protestors would use to try and gain access. These screens have been in use with the German Police for over ten years; Lancashire is one of the first forces in the UK to install this technology. One of the major benefits from not having a screen guard is improved visibility for the driver and reduction of weight on the front axle of the van allowing increased payload.

The conversions are based on the Mercedes Sprinter 519cdi long wheel base van with the 190ps engines using a manual gearbox. Inside the van there is seating for nine officers in addition to the driver. The vans have all been converted to the Level one specification with enough racking to accommodate all our equipment and are also fitted with rear cameras to assist reversing. There are no light bars on the vans instead we have fitted built in LED lights similar to those used by the ambulances.

So how much did these things cost?
A bobby or two on foot would be more appreciated.