Mazda is hoping that a rising demand for vehicles from across its range will act as a springboard for requests for models as ‘blue light’ vehicles.

Currently, vehicles are used for covert operations by many of the country’s 42 police forces and some Government agencies, including HM Revenue and Customs.

The manufacturer has also supplied a handful of models to UK fire brigades and NHS Trust ambulance fleets and expects more to follow.

It has resulted in Mazda supplying an average of three cars a month for use by a cross section of police fleets and other organisations.

But Jason Jenkins, Mazda Fleet’s national key account manager, emergency services, is optimistic that if the brand is accepted on to the National Policing Improvement Agency vehicle framework agreement, which is currently under review, demand could increase to 15-20 vehicles a month. The new agreement is expected to ‘go live’ in March 2010.

“We will not know until later this year or early in 2010 whether or not we will be included within the new agreement, but we are putting a lot of resources into obtaining approval and have exhibited at the annual National Association of Police Fleet Managers’ Conference,” explained Jenkins.