UK Police Public Order Vans

About UK Police Public Order Vans

A public order van (known in some forces as a police carrier or simply carrier) is a vehicle operated by all British police forces. They are commonly used for transportation of prisoners inside a specially adapted cell in the back of the vehicle, or for the rapid transportation of many officers to an incident.

Each divisional police station has a van for the accommodation of prisoners and transportation of officers. The Metropolitan Police Service makes extensive use of these, particularly among the Territorial Support Group, which has carries out public order duties and adapts the vans to carry riot protection equipment.

Public Order vans have a flip down wire shield across the windscreen, which helps prevent projectiles from damaging the vehicle.