BRITISH POLICE PANDA CAR
Panda cars were named after PANDA'S because they were originally painted in large panels of black and white or blue (usually light blue) and white. This may have been influenced by the black-and-white vehicle colour scheme favoured by North American police forces, which allowed the unambiguous recognition of patrol units as such from a significant distance. In the 1980's police cars in the U.K. began to be painted predominantly white to save acquisition costs, usually with reflective red or yellow stripes. Today they are painted in a variety of different colours, often with multicoloured panels or stripes, although many forces still use a mainly white colour scheme. The name panda car or panda is still often used.
HISTORY
In many areas the panda car replaced the traditional "bobby on the beat" when it was seen that larger suburban or rural areas could be more effectively patrolled by officers in cars, as opposed to on foot, bicycles or motorcycles. The provision of shelter from the notoriously unpredictable British weather and a two-way radio were also benefits.
The panda is distinct from the "area car", a larger and more powerful vehicle which acts as support to the beat constables, usually carrying two officers.
Many models of panda car have been or are used by British police forces. Among the most popular are:
AUSTIN MAESTRO
AUSTIN/ROVER METRO
FORD ESCORT
FORD FIESTA
FORD FOCUS
HILLMAN IMP
MINI
MORRIS TRAVELLER
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