PC Newman Takes Out 'The Van'

Thu, 02 September 2010 Courtesy of: Police Oracle

PC Bill Newman is a young student officer who shares his experiences of being new to the job with Police Oracle readers on a weekly basis

“If you can’t find it, grind it,” my operator, Will, chortled as my gear change made a sickening noise. I was in the van, attempting to familiarise myself with the dimensions of the vehicle as I hadn’t been in it since my course. The engine paused for a second as I battled with the gear stick and when I eventually won, the diesel coughed back into life and we continued down the road.

“Throw a left here,” Will said looking at the map. I checked my mirrors, before manoeuvring the beast into the tight bend. I suddenly saw where we were and as I looked over at Will, his grin confirmed my location; he was bringing me head on to a set of width restrictions.

The rain had been light, but was now beginning to fall quite heavily. Coupled with the darkness that was beginning to settle over us for the night, I didn’t feel I had many advantages on my side. I crawled to a pace that didn’t even register on the speedometer and almost daren’t look in my mirrors in case I would see a frustrated motorist behind wondering why I had stopped.

I remembered what my instructor had said a few weeks previously: “Get as close as you can your side and my side will sort itself out.” That hadn’t quite gone to plan and neither would this attempt.

I saw Will wince as I heard the familiar sound of the mirror scraping across the metal pole.

“Got through it though didn’t I,” I said defensively, as I accelerated away and began round two with the gearbox.

It was a cumbersome vehicle and I was slightly concerned about a potential blue light run in the wet. I wouldn’t be able to get up much speed because I didn’t feel too confident about doing so and hoped that any calls I did go to would be also attended by other units who would arrive first.

My first fright came later on during the night when a couple of units had arrested a violent male and required a van “on the hurry up”. We immediately put up for it and as I weaved my way through a series of quiet residential roads which resembled a labyrinth, I put my trust in Will’s map reading and concentrated on the driving.

I was travelling downhill and could see a red traffic light at the bottom. I wanted to approach slowly as visibility was not good and I wouldn’t be able to see or be seen until I was in the junction. I knew that I had to brake late and tried to remember the theory I had learnt. Leaving it until the last minute, I pushed on the brake. Nothing happened. We were still hurtling down towards a junction and it appeared I wouldn’t be stopping.

I could see Will in my peripheral vision huddled over the map unaware of my fears. I pushed it again and felt something happening, before pushing on the pedal with all of my weight.

The van slowly grinded to a halt before lazily throwing itself into the junction and bend.

“Bloody hell, these brakes are crap,” I shouted over the sound of the too tones.

“Oh yeh,” Will confirmed. “You don’t wanna get much speed in this old thing.”

When we eventually pulled up at the venue, I could see that another van unit had taken the initiative and arrived before me. Feeling like the child that comes last on Sports Day, I stepped out of the van and hoped I could appear without anyone noticing.

A short time later, we were driving around and I decided to travel along a dual carriage way. As I entered the slip road I saw a black Golf fly by me, unaware I was entering the road.

“He was going well over the limit,” I said aloud, confirming that it was indeed a 40mph restriction.

“Get after him then,” Will said excitedly.

Feeling a bit happier now we were on a deserted three lane carriage way at night, I put my foot down and watched the van’s speedo slowly increase. I could still see the car in front of me but knew in my heart that I would be unlikely to catch him if he didn’t want me to. Looking into the distance I could see green traffic lights. The Golf was approaching them and managed to get through with no problems. As I approached them, they changed to amber.

It was as if fate knew that I had problems stopping quickly in the van.

Seeing the lights change, my face probably changed to a picture of terror.

I went for the brakes and wondered about shutting my eyes. As the braking this time had the desired effect, I lost my fear and began to feel angry.

“Well that’s them lost then isn’t it,” I said in despair as the lights turned to red and prepared to sit in silence sulking.

Will looked over at me frowning.

“Er, Bill? Just put your blue lights on.”

The thought hadn’t even entered my mind and my face suddenly lit up like a Christmas tree.

“Oh yeh,” I said, pushing the big red button. “I forgot about that.”

We set off again in a desperate attempt to catch the car. Somehow I managed to navigate us around traffic calming islands, roundabouts and speed cushions and still had the Golf in sight. It really wasn’t flattering for the driver who was letting himself get caught by me.

Eventually we caught up to the car and he instantly pulled over. Will immediately jumped out and began speaking with the male on the pavement.

I quickly looked at the control panel; handbrake was on, as were the blue lights which I would leave on for our protection. I turned the headlights off and then turned the engine off, before removing the key and clipping it to my belt. I got out of the van, stepped down and locked the van for extra security. I looked at its position and when happy it would not be driven into, went to join Will and the male on the pavement.

“So we’ll leave it at that,” I heard him say to the driver as I joined them before walking back towards me. “Goodnight.”

Immediately I turned back to follow Will back to the van. I would have to make my exiting procedure a bit quicker next time, I realised.