Unmarked Police Cars

[jizaah]

Had a close call with an unmarked police car the other day...wondered whether there are any features that can give away these cheeky ones. In retrospect, the one I came across had a long black aerial (similar to those on mini-cabs, but sleeker), and generally I've seen that BMW 5/3 series, Vauxhall Vectra/Astra tend to be the main ones used.

Anybody else noticed any tell-tale features?

[Monster-Mat]

policemen drive them

[Ian M]

The last one I spotted was a bright red Skoda Octavia VRS, clean, extra aerial, extra interior mirror and occupied by 2 smartly dressed chaps. It sat on my tail in a 50 limit at 49.998mph for about 3 miles, then presumably got bored and so it turned off.

[cameron is200sport]

The last one I spotted was a bright red Skoda Octavia VRS, clean, extra aerial, extra interior mirror and occupied by 2 smartly dressed chaps. It sat on my tail in a 50 limit at 49.998mph for about 3 miles, then presumably got bored and so it turned off.

the two policemen women give it away cid is also a good spot out game coppers just can't help looking like coppers,to shifty lol

[dazz32]

have a look where the rear view mirror is if you can they tend to have a few bits up near there and the usual flashing lights hidden in the front grill....in watford they have a skoda octavia ( silver ) and a volvo ...

[crazy-dee]

theres quite a few round the manchester area. so far ive come across the following

m5 (manchester)

m3 (manchester)

scooby (Ashton )

vectra/astra (everywhere)

volvo(everywhere)

zafira ( i got pulled by for tail gating :D ) (everywhere)

[sparkystav]

In Lancaster they have a Galaxy people carrier, that even has a GB sticker on the badge to make it look even more run of the mill.

not run of the mill under the bonnet though, can shift when it wants to.

[Ellz]

At college we sit right next to Ricardo's which do all the work to the rozzer cars so get to see a few going in and out of there.

Sometimes they have clear lenses where normally would be other colours also sometime they have added lights (small ones) on edges of bumpers for extra blues.

The biggest ***** take ones ive seen are the Lotus Exige, and no joke a Pug 206 cc in black, whats the blomming point of that, top down cruising for the piggys.

[Dan_Harris]

*DISCLAIMER - I do not condone speeding nor do I guarantee the statements below are 100% correct

Dad works in police in MK area so i know the tricks ;), the type of vehicle depends on the area.

1) Mk have Vaux's and typically the undercovers are vectra's 3.2v6's and omega's again 3.2v6's so straight away twin tail pipes are a give away (on the vectra).

2) often they have 2 rear view mirrors as there usually is 2 of them (although this is becoming less common)

3) 98% of the time they are of dark colours grey/bue/green/marroon (never black)

4) 2 aerials (similar to the ones when you have a built in phone system hands free jobbie)

5) anything that looks like a small box on the rear parcel shelf be cautious.

Hope this helps :)

[Chris.S]

all the unmarked ive seen locally tend to have a sticker on the outside of the fuel flap that reminds wether its diesel or not

we have a black octavia rs and ive seen a black scooby. also heard there are a fleet of unmarked golfs.

their also using old cars round here too such as a renault 19 and a volvo 340 just to be that extra bit sneeky lol

[Paradroid]

Round Lancs I've also seen an Octavia vRS, and few Volvo S60's.

To be honest when I'm on the motorway and I see a Volvo I assume it IS a rozza car until I'm satisfied it isn't!

[ibby]

Wakefield - the fast and the furious

1 x V Corsa - Red

2 x Blue Astra 1.7 Diesels.

2 x T5 Estate Sliver and Blue

1 x Skyline - Blue with decals - chaved up

1 x Omega - OLD 5 Door in Green

Thats off the top of my head

[reganlives]

In manchester I've lost count on the different type of cars they're using these days but I can defo confirm they've got a few silver bmw 5 series and these arent your normal unmarked cars either, they look totally standard! the police have been very crafy with these by hiding all forms of tell tale signs as much as possible. I was so shocked when I seen one with the lights on, if it didnt go past me with the lights on I wouldnt have been able to tell. Craftiest part is the rear strobes on the silver 5 series are built into the rear clusters so u cant tell they're even there!

A lot of the police cars over here are normally MX plated even unmarked but I've seen some that arent plated like that as well. Also surprisingly seen a partially stickered up GS300 with lights on the roof as well lol.

[Gord]

all the unmarked ive seen locally tend to have a sticker on the outside of the fuel flap that reminds wether its diesel or not

we have a black octavia rs and ive seen a black scooby. also heard there are a fleet of unmarked golfs.

their also using old cars round here too such as a renault 19 and a volvo 340 just to be that extra bit sneeky lol

That black scooby, well i came accross this on the way back from the Wim meet :shutit: lets just say, he likes Audi's

And GMP X car's and driver training are based at the end of my street, get to see the driver training most days when taking kids to school

[Rich OB]

As people say they're becoming clever, used to be easy to tell, huge antenna's on the roof, missing wheel trims, strobes on corner of bumpers. Now strobes are built in to the lenses no extra aerials etc.

Round here i've seen a completely normal looking BMW 5 series in black, a battered old Transit van sitting on the side of the road with top spec Vectra's and Omega's awaiting. Also a Renult Luguna estate in dark blue!!

I guess if you're law abiding they shouldn't bother you, but we all like a blast now and agian, i believe you just have to be unlucky to get pulled as how many people stick to the speed limit!

[reganlives]

As people say they're becoming clever, used to be easy to tell, huge antenna's on the roof, missing wheel trims, strobes on corner of bumpers. Now strobes are built in to the lenses no extra aerials etc.

Round here i've seen a completely normal looking BMW 5 series in black, a battered old Transit van sitting on the side of the road with top spec Vectra's and Omega's awaiting. Also a Renult Luguna estate in dark blue!!

I guess if you're law abiding they shouldn't bother you, but we all like a blast now and agian, i believe you just have to be unlucky to get pulled as how many people stick to the speed limit!

seems like they're using the same techniques with the bmw 5 series in your area as well as manchester. they're so well done that u can even tell its a cop car. I had a close up look at a couple recently as they were at my uni (bolton) escourting the earl of wessex(?) for the opening of a new building and the strobes at the front of the car now look like led's. very very tiny fixtures in the bumper corners that u can barely see and no arials sticking out everywhere either.

[scott2016]

Isnt too bad in carlisle, they have all the unmarked cars parked next to all the patrol ones on the side of the road outside the station so you know which ones to look for .... But still...they change them all the time, so can never be too careful. Mate of mine passed a volvo the other day at 38mph and they got him. Had it on video and everything!, dont normally speed unless im finishing work at 5am or starting at that time, but dont like the way they're getting too smart <_<

[Andy-R]

Sooner or later they'll just have any old peice of S**T put a V8 with a massive s/c in it and nobody will have a clue who is or isn't an traffic officer, i'm just waiting for the Lada Riva with twin turbo Nissan engine in

My point is they'll make the unmarked motors more run of the mill but make sure they can keep up with vertually anything on the road.

[aaronabbott]

now dont quote me on this :shutit: but i was told by an ex police mechanic who does most of the work on my car is that certain unmarked police vehicles are allowed more than 1 number plate

[reganlives]

Sooner or later they'll just have any old peice of S**T put a V8 with a massive s/c in it and nobody will have a clue who is or isn't an traffic officer, i'm just waiting for the Lada Riva with twin turbo Nissan engine in

My point is they'll make the unmarked motors more run of the mill but make sure they can keep up with vertually anything on the road.

micra with sunny GTIR engine in it...now that would be funny as a cop car

[maneesh]

the ones near me usually have a bumper sticker that reads, "my other car is a marked patrol car".

[Boothby Coggles]

now dont quote me on this :shutit: but i was told by an ex police mechanic who does most of the work on my car is that certain unmarked police vehicles are allowed more than 1 number plate

More than likely. Regional Crime Squads used to have access to a variety of number plates that they could use on their vehicles for surveillance ops.

[RayKhan]

Bournemouth Police seem to have 3 and 5 series estates, they did have a convertable SAAB once. I have also seen a navy blue Laguna.

Wiltshire Police used to have a marked GS300 used to see it on the M4.

Unmarked bikes are supposed to be the new things.

[Dan_Harris]

Mk police used to have escort Cossie's but were unable to persue at high speed chases due to cost of repairs etc lol.....kind of negates the point in them.

They were also offered a fully kitted out aston martin vantage but the head of traffic turned it down? Crazy man

[muddyell]

In south wales we have quite a few unmarked 5 series bmw's and a few black evo 8s and 9s

I have heard tho that the evos are limited to 115mph