Based on a 7.5-tonne DAF LF 45 chassis, it is the work of Gray & Adams’ Specialist Vehicles Division and built to full Prisoner Escort & Custody Service Contractor specification.
Designers at Gray & Adams’ head office in Fraserburgh employed various measures including minimising floor thickness without compromising strength, and fitting a vertical exhaust, to keep the vehicle as low as possible.
The truck’s 2730mm overall roof height, coupled with DAF’s active rear air suspension, allows it to get into and out of the low-ceilinged detention bay, which is situated at the foot of a steep slope.
In addition to security, the safety and comfort of prisoners and their custodians was a top priority for the design team. Heating, lighting and ventilation are all regulated from inside the body, while a warning system alerts custodians to any failure of door locks and the like.
Gray & Adams presented the new truck on its stand at this month’s (June) National Association of Police Fleet Managers’ Blue & Amber Light Fleet Exhibition in Telford, where it was the subject of considerable interest.
Grays & Adams is best known for supplying temperature-controlled semi-trailers and bodywork, but it has also developed expertise in the construction of custodial vehicles. Vehicles range from 3.5-tonne van conversions for two-cell applications, to 14-cell vehicles based on 12-tonne chassis, and include “Category A” units for transporting high-security prisoners.
PC Andy Linsell from the States of Jersey Police Road Policing Unit commented: ‘Gray & Adams showed us a custodial body which they’d just refurbished – it was five years old but looked brand new; we were very impressed with the build quality.
‘We took their advice and instead of going with a 5.0-tonne chassis, we opted for a 7.5-tonner because this means it won’t be up to capacity and working too hard from the outset.’