Opel / Vauxhall Dresses New Astra in Police Livery

The new Astra isn't due to go on sale in Europe until this winter but GM UK Special Vehicles has already introduced a police package for the compact hatch. Vauxhall, which sold more than 900 police Astras in the UK last year, said that it usually takes around six months after launch to bring such a vehicle to the market, but because the hatch is (also) produced in the UK, GM Special Vehicles' engineers were able to speed up the development phase.

Police departments throughout the UK will be able choose from three 'high visibility' livery options -half, three-quarter or full. In addition to the graphics, the police-spec Astras are equipped with LED lightbars that available in three different widths, while all PTT (Push-to-talk) 999 and at-scene functions have been incorporated into the steering wheel.

Furthermore, the police Astra can be ordered with all communication equipment already installed along with a large 8.4-inch mobile data terminal screen incorporated into the dashboard.

Boys in Blue Acquire Lexus IS-F V8 Police Car in the UK

Humberside Police made automotive headlines today in the UK after the department announced that it has taken delivery of its first Lexus IS-F police car. The 168mph (270km/h) rear-wheel drive sports sedan that is powered by a 417HP 5.0-liter V8 engine will replace the current Subarus employed by the Roads Crime Section. Special decals and LEDs aside, the police version of the IS-F is equipped with £30,000 (about $50k or €34k) worth of on-board computers and communications equipment.

The department, which is responsible for policing the area covering the East Riding of Yorkshire, the city of Kingston, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire, said that specially trained officers spent 12 months evaluating a number of high performance vehicles before reaching a decision.

Sergeant Mike Peck of the Humberside Police Roads Crime Section said: "The purchase of the vehicle was far from an easy decision and involved research and advice from the force fleet manager, financial managers and a vehicle dynamics expert."

"The Lexus was tested during a 12 month period along with similar vehicles and proved itself to be ideally suited in providing a dynamically safe high performance chassis along with an electronically stable platform for the computer equipment. In the past this equipment has placed huge demands on vehicles but the Lexus IS-F easily met with our requirements," Peck concluded.

Kia Soul in Police Outfit to Patrol Sussex Streets

A local Kia dealer has donated a 'vanilla-cream' Soul to the Sussex Police department in the UK for use in their neighborhood policing program. While you won't be seeing the Soul chasing law-breakers on the highway, the small crossover will be used by the team of Police Community Support Officer's (PCSOs) as part of their routine street briefings and the general safe-keeping of Horsham South's communities.

"The car is as highly visible as we are!" said PCSO Charlotte Whittaker. "We were delighted to have been given a car by Toll House, but to have one that turns heads as swiftly as this one does only helps us become more visible to the public."

Toll House Kia, which provided the police-branded Soul Shaker to the Sussex Police department for a year, said that it will replace the car after six months.