Fast Response Car
Singapore Police Force land division officers typically respond to calls in rapid-deployment vehicles now known as the Fast Response Car (FRC) which are the main police cars in Singapore. Prior to 2000, they were known in public simply as police patrol cars.
Fast Response Cars are usually composed of Japanese made saloon cars. Most commonly seen are the Toyota Corolla Altis and Hyundai Avante. Around 2000, Nissan Sunny and Subaru Impreza[1] sedans were added to the fleet. Unlike civilian vehicles in Singapore in which speed limiters are installed to prevent over-speeding, Police Fast Response Cars are able to reach their maximum speed potential without hindrance when the need arises.
Originally restricted to team leader vehicles during the 1990s, all current FRCs carry a large array of equipment to allow officers to conduct normal policing duties and basic investigative work which officers are expected to perform with the implementation of the Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC) system. A typical FRC vehicle may therefore stock equipment for the force-opening of locked doors, conducting roadblocks, fingerprint collection, and the provision of first aid. On top of these, chemical agent protection equipment and bulletproof vests are also carried for the officer's protection.
The Mitsubishi Galant and Opel Astra series of FRCs, which were bought in very limited numbers, were the only police cars in local history to use aerodynamically designed light bars, all other police vehicles to date use the block shaped design.
List of Police Patrol Cars in Singapore History
Current
- Chevrolet Cruze (2015) (2016 onwards)
- Hyundai Avante (2008) (2010 onwards)
- Hyundai Elantra (2014) (2014 onwards)
- Mazda 323 (1999) (1999 onwards)
- Subaru Impreza (2004) (2006 onwards)
- Toyota Corolla Altis (2004) (2005 onwards)
- Toyota Corolla Altis (2009) (2009 onwards)
- Volvo S80 (2010) (2012 onwards) (Traffic Police)
Defunct
- Isuzu Gemini (1991-1995)
- Mitsubishi Lancer (1989-2006)
- Mitsubishi Galant (1989-1999)
- Nissan Pulsar (1982-1995)
- Nissan Sunny (B15) (2004-2010)
- Opel Astra (1995-2000)
- Subaru WRX (2005-2013) (Traffic Police)
- Toyota Corolla (1982-2012)
- Volkswagen Beetle (1968-1982)
Gallery
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A Mazda 323 Fast Response Car from Bukit Timah Neighbourhood Police Centre patrolling along Orchard Road beside Hotel Meridien
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A Toyota Corolla Altis police car at Suntec City during Singapore 2006
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A Hyundai Elantra Fast Response Car in Singapore in 2016
See also
Notes & references
- Goh, J. (May 2006). "SPF's New Fleet Hits the Road". Police Life Monthly. Vol. 32. Singapore Police Force. p. 1. Archived from the original on 2007-06-04. Retrieved 2006-12-29.
- ↑ They are not to be confused with the Subaru Impreza WRX used by the Traffic Police.