Ford is the choice of the emergency services

The entire Ford range - from the Ford Fiesta to the Ford Transit - has been awarded preferred status in the newly announced framework for vehicle procurement from the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) and the National Association of Police Fleet Managers (NAPFM).

The framework means that police forces across the UK, as well as fire and ambulance authorities, may order Ford products to meet their needs in a number of vehicle sectors categorised as low performance, intermediate, 4x4, van and civilian.

Ford vehicles have achieved preferred status in all these categories: Ford Fiesta and Ford Focus in ‘low performance’; Ford Focus and Ford Mondeo in ‘intermediate’; Ford Kuga and Ford Ranger in '4x4'; and Ford Fiesta Van, Ford Transit Connect and Ford Transit in 'van'.   All models in the Ford range can be selected by police and other service users in their ‘civilian’ specifications.

The NPIA/NAPFM framework is designed not only to help drive down the cost of running emergency-service fleets but also to deliver efficient and effective transport for personnel.

Terry Adams, Ford’s direct sales manager for police, fire and ambulance, said: “Ford has worked closely with the NPIA and NAPFM developing unique ‘one-stop shop’ products and turnkey solutions. Ford’s specialist facility, based in Essex, caters for all ‘blue light’ customer conversions and its objective is to develop standard police cars at very competitive costs.

“Ford is proud of its long relationship with the emergency services and we are looking forward to new challenges and continuing to work together as partners.”