The contract includes a large, but as-yet unspecified, number of marked police vans. Vauxhall is one of several preferred suppliers to the police under a service framework agreement formed by the National Association of Police Fleet Managers (NAPFM).
The new arrangement is mainly for Corsa, Astra and Vectra diesel cars but also includes Saab 9-5 models.
The framework agreement splits cars into low, intermediate and high-performance categories.
The Corsa 1.3 CDTi and Astra 1.7 CDTi (78bhp) will fit the low-performance sector although the Astra will later be replaced by the 1.3 CDTi (88bhp) model.
The Astra 1.7 CDTi (98bhp) will be the vehicle of choice in the intermediate category. All will be on duty as beat and response cars.
In the high-performance group, the Vectra 3.0 CDTi and 3.2 V6 will serve as road policing and response cars.
The 3.2 V6 will be replaced later this year by the more powerful 2.8 V6 turbo with 225bhp. Some forces will also take delivery of the Saab 9-5 2.3T.
Vauxhall vans will be specially converted to become prisoner transporters, scene-of- crime vehicles and dog vans. The manufacturer will convert all the vehicles to police specification at its Biggleswade Special Vehicle Operations facility.
Additional features include roof reinforcement and light bar mounting, as well as Home Office-approved heavy duty electrics.
Sam Sloan, chairman of the NAPFM procurement committee and fleet manager for Hertfordshire Police, said Vauxhall had been chosen because it had satisfied all the criteria that the procurement committee had laid down.
He said: ‘We used weighted scores which included suitab-ility for police needs, compliance with police specification, value for money based on industry standard wholelife cost models, environmental impact, aftersales service, warranty and Euro NCAP safety ratings.
‘Vauxhall offered the police forces nationally an excellent package in terms of both product and overall support.’
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