A panda car, or just panda, is a small- or medium-sized marked British police car.

Sep 4, 2022 · Four special one-man patrol cars—painted blue with a broad white stripe and known as “Pandas”—are on the road for 24 hours a day, each covering two beat areas.

Jan 14, 2025 · The 1950s saw a big change in police cars with the introduction of panda cars. These cars were easy to spot because of their black and white colors. They were made to help police patrol streets better. Some key features of panda cars include: Distinctive black and white color scheme; Improved visibility and recognizability; Enhanced ...

The term "jam sandwich" came into common use in the 1970s, as police cars changed from block colour schemes such as the blue and white "panda car" to broad fluorescent sidestriped liveries on white or grey base paint.

The break they wanted came one Sunday afternoon when a 999 call alerted the Hillman Imp Panda cars in the area. Within minutes a car was on the scene and the police caught the house-breaker. A few dozen miles away, on Dartmoor, a fanner was being troubled by …

A panda car refers to a small to medium-sized police patrol vehicle used in the United Kingdom. Historically, these vehicles were used for general patrolling in urban areas, and the term is derived from their distinctive liveries—often black and white or blue and white—resembling the appearance of a panda.

Current usage within the Metropolitan Police Service uses the term "panda car" to refer specifically to a marked car driven by a basic driver (i.e., one constrained to drive within normal traffic rules, and who may not use the vehicle's siren).

Called Unit Beat Policing, Constables were permanently assigned to their own local beat area, and a number of beat areas were supported by another officer in a Unit Beat Car, commonly known as Panda Cars.

The boot lids, bonnets and doors were then swapped to create a panda car style scheme. In the 1980s police cars in the UK began to be ordered in white to save acquisition costs, usually with orange or red "jam sandwich" reflective stripes.