Double Decker Coppers

Its a story which started here in Plymouth but has quickly spread around the UK media over the last few days:

UK police are cracking down on law-flouting motorists from iconic heights. Radio-equipped officers are setting up shop on the upper floors of double-decker buses to peer into the cars of passing motorists to see if they're using their handheld phones or failing to wear seatbelts.

The buses' superior vantage points and mobile nature are proving to be particularly effective tools. A weekend operation in Plymouth, Devon, caught over 130 motorists, including 39 mobile phone users and 36 unbelted drivers. Other motorists were arrested for speeding and impaired driving.

Innovative operation uses unusual vantage point to combat fatal five driving behaviours

Two Plymouth police officers, PC Andy Llewellyn and PC Colin Strachan, have come up with an innovative approach to spotting drivers who are exhibiting the “fatal five” driving offences. On Friday 24^th March 2017, police officers and cadets took their seats on the upper deck of a double decker bus, kindly supplied by Plymouth Citybus, giving them the perfect eagle-eye view of drivers in their vehicles.

Marked and unmarked police vehicles then responded to any offences that were spotted by the loftily positioned police spotters. Officers from Dorset’s No Excuse campaign also took part in the operation. The operation concentrated on drivers using phones and other mobile devices handheld while driving. Using a mobile device handheld while driving has been illegal since 2003, and since March 1^st the penalties for doing so have doubled to a £200 fine and six points on the driver’s license.

PC Andy Llewellyn said: “This is a great example of how we can maximise policing resources by working closely with partner organisations in the community. We are extremely grateful to Plymouth Citybus for providing us with a bus and driver for this operation. “Additionally we have had great support from inside the Force from the Alliance roads policing team, professional development unit, Special Constabulary, response officers and the Police Cadets.”

The five driving offences which can lead to a serious or fatal collision are, as above, using a mobile device handheld and also excessive speed, drink or drug driving, not wearing seatbelts and careless driving. PC Llewellyn said: “Careless and inconsiderate driving is something that people may not recognise as a fatal factor. In Plymouth and across the force area we are looking to address this and the other driving behaviours in the fatal five to improve road safety awareness.”

Plymouth Citybus added: “Being the largest transport operation in Plymouth, our passenger safety is our number one priority. We are glad that we can support this innovative approach to driving offences on our roads. This is one of a long line of moves we have made to make the roads of Plymouth a safer place for all users.” Devon & Cornwall Police

Its not that unusual for Police to use buses. Every now and again police will run ‘decoy buses’ in areas where buses have come under attack by yobs. I am sure this has happened in Plymouth in the past to. The use of buses to catch motorists is a new innovation and seems to be well received and most of the reporting I have read is very positive.

Does this make me a terrorist?

"I wonder how long I will be able to take photographs like these” dbg Elsewhere... Snake Numberzz 12.5 Others... TGP: South Circular Omnibuses2.0 Oxford and Black Velvet Woops!

With the way things are going in this country I wonder how long I will be able to take photographs like these! A selection of Police car and vans taken during March just to give a flavour of what they are driving around Plymouth. This includes an MOD Service Police van and a CCTV van

Cops on camera

I have not managed to get many photos of police cars as often they are moving at fair speed, and also with many photographers having problems with police these days I try to be discreet when I grab a shot like this. I have only been asked once by a policeman what I was doing, and he was very friendly and more than happy for me to continue. Many other photographers have not been so lucky!

Back from 2001 at the Crash Rescue Competition.

In a nice coincidence Dave Boulter MBE who was at the 2001 event supplies the next photo of a Devon and Cornwall Police Car, this time in Torquay.

©Dave Boulter MBE

I am more than happy to use Daves photo here as I have spent an hour watching a great video from 1995/6 produced by Dave as part of his Focus upon Devon's Emergency Services series:

This series of one hour programmes not only gives a strong flavour of the vehicles and waterborne craft used by the emergency services in the county but also portrays the beautiful scenery and coastline that so accurately leads to the titles English Riviera and Glorious Devon (even if very recent years have seen more rainfall than hitherto!) Those familiar with the southern coastline will know that it is hugged by the main railway line between Exeter and Newton Abbot, emerging again near water just outside Plymouth. Whether your particular delight or interest is the sea, railway, beautiful countryside, holiday venue or emergency services, the emphasis is very much on the latter but with this series combining all those factors to make it a truly memorable set of programmes

The 2001 event also features in the collection which I am looking forward to seeing as I hope to make an appearance myself- well I was there anyway so you never know.

Dave has produced a full detailed introduction and guide to his videos which are available to buy from him as he says:

I have decided to make them available at only a small cost (as a token contribution towards defraying some of my past expenditure and current reproductive costs) in an absolutely ‘no frills’ package. Plain labelling of the disc and no fancy packaging, letting instead the content of each disc speak for itself. Originally recorded on VHS and now transferred to DVD, each one-hour disc will retail at £9.99p plus a nominal £1 post and packaging by ordinary mail. Recorded post is available at the appropriate rate. Turnouts & Incidents! Part 1 is a special 90-minute programme costing £12.99 plus £1 p & p, as is Horns & Strobes! Part 11 which lasts for 92 minutes. In the unlikely event you are not entirely satisfied with your DVD a full refund will be available.

The full guide is here

Trojan Bus

Yobs who lob missiles at city buses are to be targeted by undercover police officers posing as passengers. The new initiative by Plymouth police comes after a string of reckless attacks in recent months.
According to Citybus Operations Manager Phil Smith
"We reckon it's costing us around £100,000 a year in repairs, downtime and drivers being off sick. That's nearly the cost of a new bus."

Crime Scene Investigation

Devon and Cornwall Police Y277FFJ, originally uploaded by didbygraham.

Having posted a Transit Van belonging to British Transport Police I came across this one belonging to Devon and Cornwall Police. It is different to most of the local force Transit vans as they are normally in white based liveries.
Personally i think this dark blue version is a lot smarter. It looks like the van is for the Crime Scene Investigation Unit.

Police Transit

MOD Police 638 EY04MXH, originally uploaded by didbygraham.

As well as the main Devon and Cornwall Force we have two other Police Forces at work in the Plymouth area. The biggest one is the MOD Police as of course Plymouth is a major MOD City.
Although I originally had this Ford Transit minibus down as an MOD Police bus I now am more inclined to think it belongs to the British Transport Police.
It is parked close to Devonport Station.