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Victorian criminals will soon be riding in brand-spanking new "divvy" vans on their way to the station after the state's police force began rolling out a fresh fleet of 280 vehicles.
Hitting the streets in operational use this month, the new vans are based on Ford Ranger chassis and feature a custom rear pod for the crims manufactured locally in Kilsyth.
Divisional vans – colloquially known as "divvy vans" – are a police vehicle that provide the capability of housing a person under arrest in a separate compartment to the officers.
Previously Victoria Police used similar vans based on the Holden Colorado chassis, which is no longer being produced due to General Motors retiring the Holden brand.
Features of the flash new fleet include better fitment for police equipment, a monitor to improve driver visibility, constant video display from behind the car in the rear-view mirror and more controls in the dashboard for better accessibility.
In the rear pods, criminals will get nothing more than a moulded fibreglass seat and a small porthole window.
Acting Assistant Commissioner for Road Policing Command Deb Robertson said residents on the streets of Victoria will start seeing the new Ranger-based vans from next week.
"Our frontline officers rely on divisional vans to provide the safest mode of transport for their duties, be durable and equipped for modern policing," Acting Assistant Commissioner Robertson said.
"We were pleased to find a manufacturer that could make major enhancements and modifications to one of their vehicles to purpose-build them for our operational use and to also met our fleet safety policy.
"We have now secured a long-term future for our iconic divisional vans and the community will see the new-look vehicles on the streets from next week."
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