PMV Middle East – August 2019

(Sean Pound) #1

Both vehicles were converted by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ accredited blue light


conversion partners in the UK


V


olkswagen Commercial Vehicles has
used its Crafter and Transporter
vans as base vehicles to convert them
to a police riot and prison transport van,
respectively, for the UK market.
The police support unit (PSU) on the fi ve-
tonne, long wheelbase Volkswagen Crafter
features new ‘unbreakable’ plastic for the
front windscreen, a prison cell in the rear and
a bespoke racking solution for riot equip-
ment.
The Crafter body panels have been modi-
fi ed to add new side windows while the front
windscreen has been adapted to replace
the standard glass with a new strong and
fl exible reinforced plastic that’s resistant to
impact. The KASIGLAS mar-protect material
eliminates the need for a regular metal guard
screen protector helping to reduce weight and
improve driver visibility.


The riot van transformation includes ad-
ditional seating for seven people in the rear
alongside a half width prison cell. A storage
system has been developed to store riot
shields, helmets and other police equipment.
Under the bonnet is the 2.0-litre 177 PS diesel
engine.
The conversion was carried out by Volk-
swagen Commercial Vehicles’ Accredited Blue
Light Conversion Partner Coleman Milne
Specialist Vehicles in Wigan, UK.
The prisoner transport van for police
forces has been developed from the Volk-
swagen Transporter in Trendline trim. The
van features a full width rear prison cell with
space for two prisoners, designed to ensure
safe transport for occupants. The rear also
features seating for an offi cer to accompany
prisoners on journeys and a double latch se-
curity system to prevent the rear doors from

being opened from the inside.
The cell van has also undergone a complete
blue light conversion featuring LED lights,
100-watt siren and full police livery. Under
the bonnet is the 2.0-litre 150 PS diesel en-
gine, which delivers a balance of performance
and economy. The conversion was carried
out by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ Ap-
proved Blue Light Converter Safeguard SVP
in Essex, UK.
Steven Cowell, technical sales manager,
Volkswagen Group Fleet Services, said: “This
has been a landmark year for our blue light
conversions with the cell van rounding out
a trio of new products on the market. The
riot van will be put into service across the
country supporting police forces in their vital
roles. The prisoner transport van off ers police
forces a practical, reliable and economical
solution to prisoner transport.”

VOLKSWAGEN CONVERTS CRAFTER AND


TRANSPORTER TO POLICE RIOT AND


PRISONER TRANSPORT VANS


The prisoner transport van based on the Volkswagen Transporter.

The police riot van based on the Volkswagen Crafter.

EMERGENCY VEHICLES
41

http://www.pmvmiddleeast.com AUGUST 2019 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLES

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