driving standards

[sentinel]

Currently, London is swamped with Armed Police. The 19 cars have to battle with "ARV" cars from the DPG and the Airport (it's a bit like being in the TA...not actually doing the job properly, but getting all the kit) when there is a call. It can be as manic as is described above, but so not often. Mind you, I wouldn't trade it for anything. I still start to grin when the lights and horns go on, and I'm old enough to have got it out of my system.
And the alternative (punting a panda around Peckham) is too dreadfull to comprehend.
Okay, I'll just finish this pint and have a jog around the block, otherwise I'll never pass that fitness test.

[rescueme]

Our ARVs are dual roled also. Therefore all AFOs are Advanced drivers as they are primarily Road Policing Officers first and AFOs second.

Ours are double crewed, and cannot be crewed with anymore staff for reasons that I am not going to discuss on here!!

We also have an on call firearms team of 4 and any Task Force that may be on duty.

[zatoichi]

Personally i do not think that dual purpose ARV's are a good idea, it is all about money. Most forces have moved to the single role and concerate on this. Concerning driver training, most are advanced as we are, this is essential as there is pressure on route and you need the skills to do it. I have personally found some forces training to be very poor and it reflects on the crews.
With the intro of taser we now have more deployments to jobs we would never have gone to, less lethal is the way ahead and i agree with it.
Currently we have a standard car course which is 5 weeks, including response pursuit etc, then you are required to do the advanced which is another 5 weeks. This course is a very high content and the pass rate is 50 percent. We will then get further training almost every month on vehicle use hard stops, opposed stops, naturals, coverts, overts etc etc.
Like most forces we train for stopping vehicles by force, not something i would like to do operationally.

[ynwa]

In PSNI the arv's are still to go live. They will be shortly i am told. (watch this space). However all in the 3 person crew will be advanced drivers. And i am told will be pursuit trained as well. as the PSI are armed anyway, it will be taken for granted that the ARV's will be armed also. In a lot of stations, the response vehicles are armoured so for a lot of folk in their probation, all they drive are armoured cars. The armoured landrovers will be used in the ARV's if required.