Police vans have come on a long way since their humble beginnings as horse-drawn carriage. The carriage itself was a secure cell-type structure. Now fully motorised and designed for individual purposes, the police van is easily recognisable due to its distinctive features and familiar-sounding siren.
History of the Police Van
The history of a police van (or paddy wagon) can be traced back to the 1800s. These were in the form of a horse-drawn carriage and allowed the police to carry more equipment, but they also gave them a far safer way to move criminals.
The carriage was basically a cell on wheels but was very secure. Fast forward through the 1900s, motorised vans were being utilised alongside motorcycles and cars.
Into the 2000s, police forces now had different vans for different uses. Some vans transport officers, including armed response, to a crime scene, whereas some transport criminals safely. Keeping officers safe once someone has been arrested is a priority across the force.
Inside a police van
This is not a place people generally want to end up. The front of the police van is much the same as a standard van, with seats for the driver and accompanying officers. It is the back of the van that is customised for the purpose.
The back of the police van can transport criminals so that they cannot cause harm to the officers. There is seating for prisoners secured with seatbelts along the outside edges of the van. The van is reinforced with metal and is secure to prevent people from escaping.
Names for Police Van
There are many other names for police vans, some repeatable and others not so! They can be referred to as patrol wagons, divisional vans or patrol vans. Others can be slang terms.
One such term is a ‘paddy wagon’. Some believe this name originated from a shortening of patrol vehicles, whereas others believe it has a more ethnic slur.
A ‘paddy’ is an American slur for the Irish name Padraig. The majority of arrests in the USA in the 1840s and 50s were of Irish people. Hence the name ‘paddy wagons’.
The use of Police Vans
Police vans are multi-purpose in the UK. Their primary function is to transport prisoners inside a cage or cell. This keeps them away from the officers driving the vehicle.
There is also the purpose of transporting multiple officers quickly to an incident. Police transit vans are best used to allow officers to leave the Police car at mass and speed.
Police riot vans are similar in design to a police transit van but have a shield that can be lowered to protect the windscreen from objects being thrown or dropped onto the vehicle. Some police vans transport criminals from prison to the courts and police vans from dedicated protection groups.
Black Police vans
It is important to note that not all police vans have the same appearance. One such example of this is the black police vans which have the sole purpose of providing transport from prison to court and back again. They are similar in style to traditional police vans but are black in colour.
Blue Police Vans
Blue police vans are not the most popular globally as they are, in fact, mobile speed cameras. They replaced the traditional white vans in the late 2010s and have been used ever since. Initially, the change wasn’t greeted very well, but people now recognise them and drive accordingly. They are still labelled police vehicles, but their noticeability reduces with less light.
Red Police Vans
These are primarily seen in London and have an essential purpose. They belong to the Metropolitan Police and protect members of parliament and other members of the diplomatic community. This division boasts the largest armed response division in the UK.
What does TSG mean on a police van?
TSG stands for Territorial Support Group. They have the purpose of securing the capital against terrorism, responding to any disorder in London and reducing crime through borough support. Officers in this division are uniformed and have a ‘U’ on their uniforms. This makes them quick to identify.
What does VG stand for on a police van?
There is a straightforward reason for this lettering, and it works similarly to a postcode. VG Is the identifier number for Essex Police. Other areas have different codes, such as QL being Gloucestershire Constabulary. There is also a corresponding number from the Police National Computer (PNC). In this case, VG is number 42.
Black Mariah
Some police vans were referred to as Black Mariah’s. There is no definite history behind this term, but Louis Jordan’s singer is credited with creating the time. Other stories exist around this. He referred to someone called Black Maria. This term was then used in a newspaper article some years later and was used for someone prominent and notorious. The time stuck, and people would say ‘there goes Black Maria,’ as the police van sped past.
There is an excellent history with police vans that shows the developments and variety in them. Colours, shapes and uses have evolved over the centuries, making them more beneficial to the police. Not only do they transport criminals, but they also allow more police to access an emergency more quickly.
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