Police from Northamptonshire’s Special Operations unit in Olympic VIP driving trials
OFFICERS from Northamptonshire Police’s Special Operations Unit yesterday carried out ‘specialist driver training sessions’ across the county in two high-power sports cars.
The specially-trained drivers took two white Porsches out with a number of motorbike ‘outriders’ as part of a training exercise ahead of the Olympics.
A spokesman for the force said: “We do things like this from time to time in case we ever have to have a specialist convoy driven through the county carrying people like the Royal family, for example.
“We do it to make sure our officers keep up to date with their driving techniques.
“With the Olympics coming up, there is the chance that the need for activities like this could happen more often.”
The convoy went around the county and caused particular interest when it travelled into Northampton town centre shortly after 2pm.
A number of people who saw the convoy posted messages on Twitter and Facebook speculating whether top-ranking celebrities had been inside the vehicles.
The police also received a flurry of phone calls from members of the public asking whether there was an emergency in the county.
The level of interest in the convoy forced the police to post a message on their Facebook site to reassure residents nothing was wrong.
They said: “You may have seen our Specialist Operations department out and about in a convoy today.
“They have been taking part in a training exercise in preparation for events such as the Olympics.”
The police also responded to public criticism of the use of sports cars by pointing out the vehicles did not belong to them.
The force’s spokesman said: “We were loaned the two Porsches. We did not pay for them.”
The national Olympic security co-ordinator, Chris Allison, said there will be about 12,500 police officers working at the Olympics in London.
Security training exercises already held in the capital have seen the Royal Marines take to the River Thames to practice dealing with potential terrorist threats.
As well as police officers, the Ministry of Defence has said there will also be 13,500 military personnel on duty at the Games.
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Comments
There are 11 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
willi eckaslyke
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 11:09 AMComment Removed etc...We all know how Sod's Law works; if the Royal family ever really needed to be rescued by Northants plod, you can bet your bottom dollar that the white Porsches would not available that day.
Comment Reported Unsuitable by User
Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 10:39 PMEric; yawn. It must have taken you ages to write all that but not actually say anything. The police regularly use county roads to train their drivers; there is no other way of preparing them for potential real life situations. They used the Porsches in order that they were easily identifiable as the subject cars. A bit exciting and just about newsworthy, but the article should not have attracted some of the more foolish and embarassing comments.
Removed by moderator
Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 11:47 AMSurely CPSO's on scooters will be cheaper?
Nikonboy
Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 08:29 AMWinchester - can you not read.. It clearly states that the cars were loaned and not paid for!!!! Learn to read before you post and make yourself look silly.
Erik the Viking
Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 08:20 AMGood old moaners at it as usual. These teams are required to be at a national standard of training so they can work anywhere in the country. The Olympics are placing a huge strain on police forces across the country who are required to provide the Met with Specialist Support from the end of July until the middle of September. The officers involved in this support have to train and local companies often help out by providing venues, cars etc. Without this kind of local teamwork some of the specialist training would not be possible without huge expense to the Force and the taxpayer. So how about not moaning about it and saying thank you to the people that make it possible on the cheap!
winchester
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 04:59 PMWhat a joke. Police got no money, good civilian staff made redundant. Then they blow money on flash cars. Lost all faith in the force.
mojo
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 01:54 PMSaw them driving down Victoria Promenade looked like a right important do.
willi eckaslyke
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 01:21 PMEven if it were possible, it's unlikely that the Royal family would agree to being shoehorned into the back of a Porsche.by Northamptonshire peelers.
m3mark
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 10:33 AMlets hope ther isnt a terrorist attack , from past experience our police respone team will be shopping or looking at houses they intend to buy. or following imaginary cars .
Common sense
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 10:33 AMNo doubt more fun than chasing Gay Men Behaving Badly on the A43 as reported elsewhere!
lady muck
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 08:07 AMI expect the police had a jolly good time. This will be very useful experience when terroriststs kidnap a top Princess and all helicopters are grounded. I hope the 'white Porsches' are fitted with machine-guns and tin-tack dispensers.
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