Friday night I observed a police van travelling from Highbury corner down to
Holloway Road. At first I thought he was attending an emergency situation
because not only was he been very aggressive towards other road users but he
was using the blue light and siren. In fact the solo police officer was only
collecting his Indian take-away in a public funded vehicle! (approx 3rd of
the way along Holloway Road from Highbury corner)

Are the police allowed to use the blue light & siren for personal use (i.e.
to pick up their take-away meals)? Also could you inform me what is the
procedure/law for police officers to use the blue light for non emergency
use?

The officer in question is aged about 40-50, average height with a full face
beard. Also the vehicle was a large 'mini bus' type police van with the
number 4803 displayed on the back door. time of arrive at the take away
18:55 12/12/2003

Can anyone tell me because the vehicle was used for personal use should
the officer face a bus lane fine and a parking ticket for leaving his
vehicle on a red line route before 7pm?

df

dave F wrote:
Friday night I observed a police van travelling from
Highbury corner down to Holloway Road. At first I thought
he was attending an emergency situation because not only
was he been very aggressive towards other road users but he
was using the blue light and siren. In fact the solo police
officer was only collecting his Indian take-away in a
public funded vehicle! (approx 3rd of the way along
Holloway Road from Highbury corner)

Are the police allowed to use the blue light & siren for
personal use (i.e. to pick up their take-away meals)? Also
could you inform me what is the procedure/law for police
officers to use the blue light for non emergency use?

The officer in question is aged about 40-50, average height
with a full face beard. Also the vehicle was a large 'mini
bus' type police van with the number 4803 displayed on the
back door. time of arrive at the take away 18:55 12/12/2003

Can anyone tell me because the vehicle was used for
personal use should
the officer face a bus lane fine and a parking ticket for
leaving his vehicle on a red line route before 7pm?

df

Why not send the details to Sir John Stevens, Metropolitan Police
Commissioner and see what he says? If you
prefer snail mail the address is New Scotland Yard Broadway London SW1H 0BG.
Phone 020 7222 1212.

Cast_Iron wrote:

Why not send the details to Sir John Stevens, Metropolitan Police
Commissioner and see what he says?
If you prefer snail mail the address is New Scotland Yard Broadway
London SW1H 0BG. Phone 020 7222 1212.

Remember to include your full name, address and date of birth so the police
know where to contact you should they wish to discuss the matter further ;-)






--
The presence of this sig indicates that I'm under the influence of
excess alcohol. Until I'm sober enough to remember to switch this sig
file off, please treat the above as merely drunken ranting.

I apologise in advance for any offence caused :-)

"Stimpy" wrote in message
...
Cast_Iron wrote:

Why not send the details to Sir John Stevens, Metropolitan Police
Commissioner and see what he says?
If you prefer snail mail the address is New Scotland Yard Broadway
London SW1H 0BG. Phone 020 7222 1212.

Remember to include your full name, address and date of birth so the
police
know where to contact you should they wish to discuss the matter further
;-)

Sorry, I almost forgot. It would be helpful if you included the registration
numbers of any motor vehicles you own or regularly drive.

"dave F" wrote in message
...
Friday night I observed a police van travelling from Highbury corner down
to
Holloway Road. At first I thought he was attending an emergency situation
because not only was he been very aggressive towards other road users but
he
was using the blue light and siren. In fact the solo police officer was
only
collecting his Indian take-away in a public funded vehicle! (approx 3rd of
the way along Holloway Road from Highbury corner)

Are the police allowed to use the blue light & siren for personal use
(i.e.
to pick up their take-away meals)? Also could you inform me what is the
procedure/law for police officers to use the blue light for non emergency
use?

The officer in question is aged about 40-50, average height with a full
face
beard. Also the vehicle was a large 'mini bus' type police van with the
number 4803 displayed on the back door. time of arrive at the take away
18:55 12/12/2003

Can anyone tell me because the vehicle was used for personal use should
the officer face a bus lane fine and a parking ticket for leaving his
vehicle on a red line route before 7pm?

df



Hasn't this come up b4 on this or another group? The copper may have been
getting a prisnors meal that had to be serverd by 1900hrs? lol

"dave F" wrote in message ...
Friday night I observed a police van travelling from Highbury corner down to
Holloway Road. At first I thought he was attending an emergency situation
because not only was he been very aggressive towards other road users but he
was using the blue light and siren. In fact the solo police officer was only
collecting his Indian take-away in a public funded vehicle! (approx 3rd of
the way along Holloway Road from Highbury corner)

Are the police allowed to use the blue light & siren for personal use (i.e.
to pick up their take-away meals)? Also could you inform me what is the
procedure/law for police officers to use the blue light for non emergency
use?

The officer in question is aged about 40-50, average height with a full face
beard. Also the vehicle was a large 'mini bus' type police van with the
number 4803 displayed on the back door. time of arrive at the take away
18:55 12/12/2003

Can anyone tell me because the vehicle was used for personal use should
the officer face a bus lane fine and a parking ticket for leaving his
vehicle on a red line route before 7pm?

df

What you probably saw was a Police Officer who was due to be taking
his meal break, and so was en-route to collect some food, being
directed to an emergency response call or an assistance shout from a
colleague. When he was cancelled from the incident as not required,
rather than simply switching everything off in the middle of the
street and confusing the other motorists he pulled over and
coincidently was nearly at a takeaway which he then visited to collect
his dinner.

If the officer had indeed just used the emergency equipmemt in his
vehicle to go for his dinner he would have faced very serious
disciplinary action which may have resulted in losing his job so the
chances of the situation being as you perceived is very unlikely.
Before anyone says he wouldn't get caught there are GATSO and CCTV
cameras on Holloway Road

DDV

DDV wrote:

"dave F" wrote in message ...
Friday night I observed a police van travelling from Highbury corner down to
Holloway Road. At first I thought he was attending an emergency situation
because not only was he been very aggressive towards other road users but he
was using the blue light and siren. In fact the solo police officer was only
collecting his Indian take-away in a public funded vehicle! (approx 3rd of
the way along Holloway Road from Highbury corner)

Are the police allowed to use the blue light & siren for personal use (i.e.
to pick up their take-away meals)? Also could you inform me what is the
procedure/law for police officers to use the blue light for non emergency
use?

The officer in question is aged about 40-50, average height with a full face
beard. Also the vehicle was a large 'mini bus' type police van with the
number 4803 displayed on the back door. time of arrive at the take away
18:55 12/12/2003

Can anyone tell me because the vehicle was used for personal use should
the officer face a bus lane fine and a parking ticket for leaving his
vehicle on a red line route before 7pm?

df


extremely convoluted possibility

What you probably saw was a Police Officer who was due to be taking
his meal break, and so was en-route to collect some food, being
directed to an emergency response call or an assistance shout from a
colleague. When he was cancelled from the incident as not required,
rather than simply switching everything off in the middle of the
street and confusing the other motorists he pulled over and
coincidently was nearly at a takeaway which he then visited to collect
his dinner.

/extremely convoluted possibility

DDV wrote in message
m...
"dave F" wrote in message
...
Friday night I observed a police van travelling from Highbury corner
down to
Holloway Road. At first I thought he was attending an emergency
situation
because not only was he been very aggressive towards other road users
but he
was using the blue light and siren. In fact the solo police officer was
only
collecting his Indian take-away in a public funded vehicle! (approx 3rd
of
the way along Holloway Road from Highbury corner)

Are the police allowed to use the blue light & siren for personal use
(i.e.
to pick up their take-away meals)? Also could you inform me what is the
procedure/law for police officers to use the blue light for non
emergency
use?

The officer in question is aged about 40-50, average height with a full
face
beard. Also the vehicle was a large 'mini bus' type police van with the
number 4803 displayed on the back door. time of arrive at the take away
18:55 12/12/2003

Can anyone tell me because the vehicle was used for personal use should
the officer face a bus lane fine and a parking ticket for leaving his
vehicle on a red line route before 7pm?

df

What you probably saw was a Police Officer who was due to be taking
his meal break, and so was en-route to collect some food, being
directed to an emergency response call or an assistance shout from a
colleague. When he was cancelled from the incident as not required,
rather than simply switching everything off in the middle of the
street and confusing the other motorists he pulled over and
coincidently was nearly at a takeaway which he then visited to collect
his dinner.

If the officer had indeed just used the emergency equipmemt in his
vehicle to go for his dinner he would have faced very serious
disciplinary action which may have resulted in losing his job so the
chances of the situation being as you perceived is very unlikely.
Before anyone says he wouldn't get caught there are GATSO and CCTV
cameras on Holloway Road


Well as far as I am concerned I believe the officer was driving
unprofessionally and I was totally shocked to see him visiting the take-away
restaurant soon after using the blue light/siren to avoid what is normally a
congested Highbury Corner roundabout.
I have reported the incident and it's now up to the police to investigate.
Yes there are many CCTV cameras in action because it was before 7pm when
operators should be on duty observing any miss use of the bus lanes.