Vauxhall's Special Vehicle Operations is expanding its range of safety products to include prison vans; specifically, a "fully fitted prison cell" installed in the firm's Vivaro transporter. This is a first for both Vauxhall and UK police, who have until recently relied strictly on aftermarket firms to create these cells-on-wheels.
A major bonus, according to UK Police officials, is that as manufacturer-outfitted vehicles, the Vauxhall police vans will be more rigidly tested. "A key concern with these other products is how they perform in crashes as the huge forces involved can snap free fixing points and put the van driver, passengers and detainees in danger."
Examples of Vauxhall's testing include extreme acceleration (0-30 mph in 1/10th of a second) and a variety of crash tests.
Agencies looking to pick up the cell'd-out Vivaro should know that it will be available on models packing two rows of standard seating (holding up to six passengers). Also, all the standard emergency-service fare is available ("lightbars, grille lights, high level rear lights, switch panel, siren, various liveries etc.").
By Phil Alex
