Battenburg markings
Emergency vehicles in the United Kingdom are generally marked withBattenburg markings, a 2-colour checkerboard pattern. Although they originated in the United Kingdom, Battenburg markings or adapted versions of the pattern are used in many countries.
The color scheme is determined by the type of emergency vehicle. For example, police vehicles (patrol cars) are yellow andblue, ambulances are yellow andgreen, and fire engines are yellow andred. Sometimes stickers are applied, while in other cases the body is painted directly. Stickers are more commonly used on police vehicles and ambulances, and reflective materials improve visibility at night.
London police vehicles
Metropolitan Police Ford Focus III
The system responsible for keeping London safe is somewhat complex. Except for a few areas, the body responsible for the whole of London is the Metropolitan Police.
London’s Metropolitan Police is also known as Scotland Yard. Its name often appears in Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes series and Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot series.
Metropolitan Police Mercedes-Benz Sprinter II
It is the 2nd generation of the German vehicle, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.
It can carry bicycles. “POLICE” is also clearly written on the bicycle.
Metropolitan Police Ford Transit IV
This is the 4th generation of the Ford Transit. Ford is an American company, but the Transit has primarily been manufactured and sold in Europe.
Police vehicle bodywork is usually white or silver, but red police vehicles belong to a London Metropolitan Police unit responsible for Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection. It is also known as “PaDP”, after the initial letters.
City of London Police Volkswagen Golf GTE
The exception is the City of London, central London:City of London Policethis separate police organization has jurisdiction there. The City of London Police is not a subordinate organization of the Metropolitan Police; it is completely independent.
We introduce London's police vehicles, focusing on the differences between the Metropolitan Police, City of London Police, and British Transport Police, as well as the yellow-and-blue Battenburg markings. For more details, see the article below.
Scottish police vehicles
Police Scotland Vauxhall Astra VI
This is a Police Scotland vehicle. It is the 6th-generation Vauxhall Astra.
"SEMPER VIGILO" is Latin for “Always vigilant” and is the motto of Police Scotland.
Police Scotland Peugeot 207
This is a Police Scotland vehicle. It is a Peugeot 207. It is a rare vehicle without Battenburg markings.
British Ambulances
Yorkshire Ambulance Service Fiat Ducato III
This is an ambulance based on the late-model 3rd-generation Fiat Ducato. The green-and-yellow checkerboard pattern is the symbol of emergency services in the United Kingdom.
Scottish Ambulance Service Mercedes-Benz Sprinter II
This is a Scottish Ambulance Service vehicle.
This is the 2nd-generation Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.
Scottish Ambulance Service BMW i3
i3 is BMW's first mass-produced electric vehicle.
Falck MAN TGE
In the United Kingdom, including London, there are both public and private ambulances. Public ambulances are marked with a yellow-and-green checkerboard pattern.
Falck is Europe's largest private provider of emergency services and is headquartered in Denmark.
UK fire engines
London Fire Brigade Scania P 320
Fire engines in the United Kingdom, including London, are marked with a yellow-and-red checkerboard pattern.
Other emergency vehicles
H M Coastguard Mitsubishi L200 V
This is the 5th-generation Mitsubishi L200.
"H M Coastguard" is an abbreviation for "His/Her Majesty's Coastguard".
H M Coastguard Ford Transit Connect II
This is the 2nd generation of the Ford Transit Connect.
The British Coastguard is marked with a yellow-and-navy checkerboard pattern. Some vehicles, such as this one, have their bodywork finished in matching navy.