Police Escorts - Who gets them

[Bigmuz7]

I have been abruptly stopped several times recently, as a sucession of police motorbikes (up to about 9) blocked off roundabouts to allow a motorcade through without having to stop. They kept rolling and overtaking to do the same at traffic lights etc, holding up a lot of traffic. In todays climate of do as I say and not as I do, and cost matters not in government, so long as we spend it on ourselves.... I wondered how important you'd have to be to get this treatment. It seems like a tremendous cost to do this, as there would be another 4 bikes with the 2 cars involved. The reason I ask is that someone told me they might only be a police chief

[Jon Brooks]

Normally high risk VIP's.
People like the PM, Heads of State etc.

Also if there is a van in the middle it could be high risk/proflie crims.

I have also had a police escort when carrying a very poorly patient that needs a non stop transfer between hospitals.

So the answer would be if you want a police escort:-

Become PM, rule a county, be very ill or break the law in a big way!

All the best regards

[Kernow Buoy]

I believe that would be for a cabinet minister or royal on a pre arranged visit, it could of course be VIPEG (escort group) training, a friend of mine is a convoy commander with them and as an ex Royal Marine it does needle him that no expense is spared when his ex colleagues are short of kit in a warzone.

[whiteminiman]

In France this is amazing... much the same system... except the route is not known by any of the drivers... it is preprogrammed into their GPS systems and varies each time.

The vehicles are armed and authorised to use force against anything or anyone that blocks their path. Apparently a particularly common place for them to be stopped/hijacked is at the Péage booths on the autoroute (despite them having a special lane so they don't have to stop, and all the other traffic being stopped for them). I remember being in a van with a French colleague who used words to the effect "better keep out of their way, because they shoot to kill if you don't".

Often, on long transfers the escort vehicles are relayed, so that no one team escorts the whole route... keeping the whole thing top secret and secure.

Cheers,
WMM

[Biggles]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

I have been abruptly stopped several times recently, as a sucession of police motorbikes (up to about 9) blocked off roundabouts to allow a motorcade through without having to stop. They kept rolling and overtaking to do the same at traffic lights etc, holding up a lot of traffic. In todays climate of do as I say and not as I do, and cost matters not in government, so long as we spend it on ourselves.... I wondered how important you'd have to be to get this treatment. It seems like a tremendous cost to do this, as there would be another 4 bikes with the 2 cars involved. The reason I ask is that someone told me they might only be a police chief

Which bit of Scotland was this in ? And was their some large blue lorries involved ?

[Aidan]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

I have been abruptly stopped several times recently, as a sucession of police motorbikes (up to about 9) blocked off roundabouts to allow a motorcade through without having to stop. They kept rolling and overtaking to do the same at traffic lights etc, holding up a lot of traffic. In todays climate of do as I say and not as I do, and cost matters not in government, so long as we spend it on ourselves.... I wondered how important you'd have to be to get this treatment. It seems like a tremendous cost to do this, as there would be another 4 bikes with the 2 cars involved. The reason I ask is that someone told me they might only be a police chief

It would be interesting to see what would happen in a pile up.
In this day and age of saving the climate, I wonder how much fuel is used up.
They have nothing else to do I am sure. It wasnt the Skittish sorry the Scottish Rugby team hiding, was it???

When is a pass not a pass????
When it gets intercepted 1 -7 Points
when it gets intercepted 2 -14 Points
when it gets intercepted 3 -21 points
Must qualify as the fastest scoring in history

All I can say is that he Scottish Tourism board must have been involved.
Ihope they are as nice to us irish when wee meet them soon...

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by Aidan

It would be interesting to see what would happen in a pile up.
In this day and age of saving the climate, I wonder how much fuel is used up.
They have nothing else to do I am sure. It wasnt the Skittish sorry the Scottish Rugby team hiding, was it???

When is a pass not a pass????
When it gets intercepted 1 -7 Points
when it gets intercepted 2 -14 Points
when it gets intercepted 3 -21 points
Must qualify as the fastest scoring in history

All I can say is that he Scottish Tourism board must have been involved.
Ihope they are as nice to us irish when wee meet them soon...

Dont you start me Aiden , that Italy game... we were like a bunch of schoolboys .. it was embarassing ... compared to you lads against England, never mind us, whats up with the English boys these days?, And we just beat the Welsh side too ...

Never say never though (still hangs head in shame over Italy)

[Aidan]

Hey Bigmuz, The Scottish team is better than that.

They were unlucky but it didnt make for good watching, unless you are Italian.

Do not worry, Scotland will be back, just not in the next two weeks please.

[scousefreddy]

Originally Posted by Jon Brooks

So the answer would be if you want a police escort:-

Become PM, rule a country, be very ill or break the law in a big way!

I think Tony Blair has done all of those!