Specialist vehicle converter MacNeillie in Walsall is to convert more than 100 public-order vans for police forces under a new framework agreement.
The agreement is expected to provide economies of scale savings of over £800,000 for the group, which covers over 30 police forces and agencies including Avon & Somerset, Leicestershire and West Yorkshire, led by West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson. West Midlands Police is expected to buy around 60 vehicles under the framework agreement.
The Protected Personnel Carriers will be long-bodied, high roof Mercedes-Benz Sprinters which will be taken apart and rebuilt by MacNeillie to include protected glass and adapted tyres that can be driven for up to 30km in the event of punctures as well as locking systems and people cells as well as built-in storage units to hold police items.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said: “Not only is this great value for money, because police forces and agencies from across the country have come together to drive down costs, but this contract is also good for the West Midlands economy as all of the vehicles will be converted in the region.”
He added: “The new Mercedes-Benz vehicles are excellent addition to our fleet that will serve the force well over the coming years.”
