Police Vehicle Use

[chrisuk013]

Are Police officers allowed to used police vehicles for their own personal use..? by that i mean using police vehicles to go shopping, going to pick up take aways etc..

[TheWinner]

I don't see why not. If white van man is working an 8 hour day doing deliveries, I am sure he doesn't go home and swop vehicles to his own car, so he can call at the chippy to get his dinner and then go home and swop back from his own car to his white van to carry on working?

[Buenchico]

In general, the answer must be 'No'.

However it's not uncommon for patrols to be out on the road for many hours, so senior officers are unlikely to object to their junior colleagues calling into a café to grab a coffee, or to nipping into a supermarket for a sandwich, etc. Indeed many smaller shops (particularly corner shops selling alcohol) are happy to provide police officers with freebies, as they feel reassured by having a regular police presence on the premises.

Chris

PS: I've just read through that last sentence again. By 'freebies' I meant sandwiches or cans of Coke, etc. I wasn't implying that the coppers are given free booze(!) - only that off-licences are particularly vulnerable to shop-lifting and robberies!

[chrisuk013]

Is the white van man using money from a very tight public purse? I think not somehow..

[woofgang]

But if hey aren't going out of their way and it saves expensive time?

[chrisuk013]

It shouldnt be allowed full stop!!

[sherrardk]

How do you know they were? Sometimes, the police go and get takeaways for people in custody (regardless of what you think of crims/suspected crims, they have got to be fed).

[shoota]

Why?

[ChuckFickens]

So are you saying police officers can't take a lunch break.

OR are you suggesting that they waste resources by driving back to the station to have lunch and then return to their patrol area afterwards?

[ChuckFickens]

anyone that types "full stop" on an internet site always reminds me of a spoiled child stamping their foot.

[Nini74]

my dad was in the Police for 31 years and never ever took an allocated break - what you'll generally find is that they're going to the chippy to get food because they won't be taking an actual break to obtain, prepare and eat food. What's your objection to that Chris? Plus of course, sherrardk is absolutely right in that they very often get fod for suspects too.....

[Dee Sa]

I knew a very obnoxious young policeman who thought it was his right to have free pizzas, chips & takeaways he boasted he never paid whilst on duty.

[rockyracoon]

Our local fire service always bring the fire engine to Tesco when they are doing a shop incase they get a call out, same would apply to the police wouldn't it? better to have them out and about on hand when needed rather than half of them in the station at meal times.

[hc4361]

Police officers are on duty during their break times. If they've just started their meal and get called out - tough. If they are working miles from their station, as often happens, they still need to eat.

[IggyB]

if you pull a police car / crew back to station to have their break you lose that resource if you let your officers nip into the local shop to pick up some food then they are available at all times and are providing a reassuring presence within the community - much better on the public purse and much better policing in my honest opinion.

[lcg]

it may be that they pre-ordered supper for a large group of coppers and took it back to the station to feed en masse. yes they do go and pick up food and so do paramedics. due to the nature of their job, often police do not get a proper break during their shift. it is usually the case that they take the opportunity to get some grub and go for it. i don't begrudge anyone some food when they do 10 hour shifts (not to mention all the overtime!). if you do...then i think you are a bit tight!

[joko]

do you mean when they have finished their shift or on days off and are at home?

in that case, no, presumably the vehicle would stay at the station for other officers

if you mean can they stop for foo during their shift, then yes why not?

if they are just driving around in circles or parked up, waiting for some incident to attend whats wrong with using the time to do the odd thing like that? they are still on duty, and ready to go if a call comes in.

if anything, it saves petrol aimlessly driving round...

[sandyRoe]

One of the reasons John Stalker, deputy chief constable of Greater Manchester, lost his job was that he'd used a police vehicle for private reasons.

[moonglow52]

I do know a police officer who bought the police car home on a few occasions when some building work was happening at the police station and he was off duty.
He only lived about a mile from the police station.
Presumably they did not expect to need it at those times.
I did see another officer take it once. I think he had a spare set of keys as I know the police officer was out at the time.
I presume the officer was authorised to take it home under these circumstances and he probably started and finshed his shift at home rather than at the police station.
Another situation I know of a police officer had to go from the Luton area to Manchester on official police duties in an unmarked car.
I would presume he would have pulled in possibly twice for a coffee even if he had a full meal at his destination.
I would not think his higher ranking officer would have objected to him leaving the motorway if the officer would rather use a cafe he knew rather than using the service station on a motorway.