Ford Lands Big SUV, Van Order From U.K. Police Agencies

Ford U.K. wins a 1,100-unit order from police services across the region with the focus on both the Ford Kuga SUV and Transit Custom van in their ’16 fleet renewals.

The U.K.’s northern consortium of 22 police services ordered 680 Ford models, including 120 Kuga SUVs and 560 Transit Custom medium vans.

Half of the Transit Customs will be supplied as cell vans, converted by the consortium’s Special Vehicle Preparation operation into a unit capable of securely transporting two detainees, accompanied by up to five police officers.

Ford Kuga and Transit Custom were also atop the SUV and van order list for the region’s southern consortium, which includes six fire departments as well as 28 police services.

They also added 110 Ford Transit Connect light vans and 30 Ranger pickups to the 80 Kugas and 200 Transit Customs that made up their Ford order.

Ford direct-sales manager Terry Adams says the blue oval has a long history of working with emergency services spanning 50 years. He says the Kuga has established itself as their rural beat car of choice with all-important all-wheel drive necessary for winter conditions.

British Transport Police, South Wales and Dyfed Powys are other police services with Kugas in their fleets. The market-leading Transit Custom is used in every police region in the U.K., with roles as cell vans, crime scene units, dog carriers and camera vans.

The new all-wheel-drive Ford Mondeo is considered the best station wagon for transporting police dogs. Its high payload and volume capacity best meet new Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals guidelines on in-car kennel size and welfare of dogs in transit, Ford says.