Victoria Police Crewman Divisional Van event

[Darren]

The Victorian Police and Holden launch the new Crewman-based Divisional Van
- the safest prisoner transport vehicle in Australia.

The four-door Victoria Police Holden Divisional Van is a safer, unique vehicle. For the first time, Police can carry five personnel in one vehicle and still have capacity for detainees in the security pod, thanks to Holden design and engineering.

Holden and the Victoria Police launch the new divisional van on the steps of the Melbourne Exhibition Centre on Tuesday 1 March.

Divisional Van demonstrations, photography and interview opportunities with Victoria Police Region 3 (North West) Assistant Commissioner Gary Jamieson and Holden Director Sales Megan Stooke will be provided following the event.

Source: Holden Media Web Site.

[Ute God]

For the first time, Police can carry five personnel in one vehicle and still have capacity for detainees in the security pod, thanks to Holden design and engineering.

What about the paddy wagon?

[Torana]

Yeah I was just thinking that.....

[VN_Skids]

thats going to look gay.

[Twin_Bangerz]

That IS the div van. As if you could fit 5 adults in a crewman.

[Astranomical]

5 adults can sit comfortably in a Commodore, so i can't see why you couldn't get 5 adults in a Crewman.

[Doctor Bob]

5 adults can sit comfortably in a Commodore, so i can't see why you couldn't get 5 adults in a Crewman.

so youve obviously never tried to sit on one then....
three adult pygmys in the back maybe.
( no offence to our shorter members intended)
seriously if youre much taller than 5 feet you will have trouble getting in.

Cheers Rob

[Astranomical]

I just assumed that since its based on the Commodore, it'd be the same inside as a Commodore.

[Gobbles]

Funnily enough its based on the Ute model......not the sedan hense no rear head room.....wouldnt like my 6ft5 chances in the back of one

[DEMNVT]

Hey There,

Although i am exceptionally new round here, this thread caught my eye as my bf actually has been building these for the past 3 months.... therefore we have a few pics so thought maybe id post them up for you. On his behalf of course, as i have only just been told about this site, i will tell him tonight and im sure he will be happy to get on tonight when he gets home from work to tell all about the nooks n crannys of these new beasts

Anyhow, heres a few pics he took, before the first lot were sent out for the "launch" day of the new Crewman Police Vehicles!








Anyhow, off to look at more of the site!

Take it easy Guys!!

Becc (aka DEMNVT)

[Bax]

Looks a bit silly.

[RKZ234]

They look like a big white Hearse!!

As for transporting 5 coppers in comfort, you must be kidding. There's virtually no backseat legroom. The back seat upright slopes slightly forward, meaning your shoulderblades and head are infront of your waist, making the back seat a very uncomfortable ride going any further than around the block.

The back seat is OK for kids, but you'd have to be a very very short adult to be even remotely comfortable.

[The1985divo]

there kewl

[jetspin_vn]

Back of the crewman is not too bad, its almost bolt upright but hey at least it improves your posture. I've sat in the back of one for three hours no complaints.

[Fitzy44]

5 adults can sit comfortably in a Commodore, so i can't see why you couldn't get 5 adults in a Crewman.

As a Crewman owner (currently a VY-II "S" but by end of next week a VZ Crewman "SS") I can say that the rear seat of a Crewman really suits smaller adults or children. My son (14 and reasonably big for his age) finds it OK on longer trips (like Melb > Northern NSW and back). The rear of the seat is also rather vertical. It could never be described as really roomy back there. Your traditional tall if not large copper would find uncomfortable in the rear seat for long periods and wouldn't like the centre position.

[RKZ234]

Back of the crewman is not too bad, its almost bolt upright but hey at least it improves your posture. I've sat in the back of one for three hours no complaints.

It's actually very bad for your posture as the seat it places your head forward of your body's centre of gravity and places great strain on neck muscles and your lower back around the area of L2-3, L3-4 & L4-5. THe taller the passenger, the worse the problem.

[RKZ234]

As a Crewman owner (currently a VY-II "S" but by end of next week a VZ Crewman "SS") I can say that the rear seat of a Crewman really suits smaller adults or children. My son (14 and reasonably big for his age) finds it OK on longer trips (like Melb > Northern NSW and back). The rear of the seat is also rather vertical. It could never be described as really roomy back there. Your traditional tall if not large copper would find uncomfortable in the rear seat for long periods and wouldn't like the centre position.

I totally agree. The seat is only good for people under about 5ft 6in. For coppers it is only a short trip vehicle for the back seat pasengers. Being 6ft 2in, I'd refuse to do a shift in one if I had to sit in the back seat.

[Lexx]

As if you could seat 5 cops in the crewman with full duty belts ( loaded with guns, cuffs, shark repellant, batton, torch, phone radio ect! ).
That is why the Vic Police came up with this idea. You fit two cops in the front seats, stuff a crim or three in the back seat any way you can and comfortably seat three other cops in the rear pod.
Don't tell me you lot thought the pod was for crims??
Have any of you seen inside the pod of the new crewman yet?? I have, I was looking through one just the other day. I even took some pics while I was there. Check it out................

[mixin]

Hahaha, very good!

That must be the one the commissioner does his "walk the streets" political stunts in!

[RKZ234]

Ah, so that's what a Mobile Police Command Post Vehicle looks like inside. Silly me always thought it would have lots of Police stuff in it, like radios, batons, OC Spray refills, a fax, mobile phone, urn and a pie warmer, maybe even a microwave!

I can see the nice beige chair there for "boss," whilst the troops have to contend with crappy wooden backed ones with minimal seat cushioning at their overcrowded little workstation!! Curiously I don't seem to be able to see a desk to go with the boss's chair, but I do see the boss's "office" down the back there!

[dv8-01]

they look alright,it'll grow on ppl eventually..

[helly]

You'd be lucky to fit 4 cops in the crewman... We have tested one up in NSW and with all the crap that has to be carried around with you, like ballistic vests and kit bags, fire extinguishers, maps, torches on charging posts, computer (MDT), radio and light system controllers, you can only fit 4 at most.

It was the same in the Rodeo's aswell...

The biggest benefit is how much better they perform compared to the old paddy wagons. Its lower and has much less body roll. The downside is they don't go places the Rodeo's do... Try getting up over a normal street gutter with 4 bodies on board, go on I dare ya!!!

Quite honeslty I think the new toyota Hilux Dual Cab would be a cracker!!!

[Patrio7]

maybe they should of based it off the aventra or equvilent

could almost imagine a police 4x4 wagon, that'd scare me if it tailed me

[RKZ234]

You'd be lucky to fit 4 cops in the crewman... We have tested one up in NSW and with all the crap that has to be carried around with you, like ballistic vests and kit bags, fire extinguishers, maps, torches on charging posts, computer (MDT), radio and light system controllers, you can only fit 4 at most.

It was the same in the Rodeo's aswell...

The biggest benefit is how much better they perform compared to the old paddy wagons. Its lower and has much less body roll. The downside is they don't go places the Rodeo's do... Try getting up over a normal street gutter with 4 bodies on board, go on I dare ya!!!

Quite honeslty I think the new toyota Hilux Dual Cab would be a cracker!!!

The Crewman is certainly a lot less of a multi purpose vehicle than the 2wd Rodeo. The Crewman is best suited to the outer urban areas. Inner city is better off with the Rodeo for mounting gutters and traffic islands etc. Otherwise there are going to be a lot of Crewmans with their underbellies badly battle scarred and punnished.

I still think the Commodore Ute would be a better vehicle to base the Prisoner Transport Van (PTV) on. The extra seating in the Crewie isn't really warranted, when you take into consideration the increased fuel bill incurred and the limitations of use which come with the Great White Hearse.

Then there's the whole safety issue of reversing the thing!!!

Draw the short straw = observer for the shift, meaning you will be getting out to guide every single time the vehicle is reversed.

[ozute]

Hey thanks for posting the pics DEMNVT, they look alright I reckon