Loan Vehicles for Royal and Specialist Protection

The Prime Minister announced a General Election is to take place on 12th December 2019. During the campaign period, Royalty and Specialist Protection will provide protection to the leaders of all the main political parties, whilst travelling throughout the United Kingdom. This protection operation represents a large surge demand for both officers and vehicles.



Due to the specialist nature of the protection operation, a range of vehicle types have been sourced from three manufacturers and all have offered vehicles free of charge to the MPS.

The loan agreement liability terms applied only by BMW UK Ltd mean that the value of benefit to the MPS exceeds the approval limit within the MPS.

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is recommended to approve the acceptance of five loan vehicles from BMW UK Ltd, to support the protection operation for the General Election taking place in December 2019.

1. Introduction and background

1.1. The Prime Minister announced a General Election is to take place on 12th December 2019. During the campaign period, Royalty and Specialist Protection will provide protection to the leaders of all the main political parties, whilst travelling throughout the United Kingdom.



1.2. This protection operation represents a large surge demand for both officers and vehicles.

2. Issues for consideration

2.1. Royalty and Specialist Protection will provide protection to the leaders of the main political parties, this represents a large surge demand for both officers and vehicles.

2.2. A range of vehicle types have been sourced from three vehicle manufacturers and all have agreed to provide vehicles free of charge to the MPS.

2.3. One manufacturer, BMW UK Ltd has applied a liability term which means that the MPS will be liable for the replacement cost should any one of the five loan vehicles be written off, lost or stolen as well as repair costs should the vehicle be damaged during the term of the loan.

2.4. Taking this liability clause into consideration, the value of benefit to the MPS exceeds the approval limit within the MPS.

3. Financial Comments

3.1. The five vehicles offered by BMW UK Ltd are free of charge and will have assisted the MPS to avoid approximately £15,000 of hire costs.

3.2. In relation to the liability clause, the financial cost of any repair or replacement will be met from existing budgets held by Royalty and Specialist Protection.

3.3. Should the vehicle remain damage free there will not be a charge for the loan of these five vehicles.

4. Legal Comments

4.1. Section 93 of the Police Act 1996 makes provision for police authorities to accept gifts, loans, donations and sponsorship in connection with the discharge of any of its functions



4.2. S93 provides the MOPAC, as the local policing body, may in connection with the discharge of any its functions; accept gifts of money, and gifts or loans of other property, on such terms as appear to be appropriate to the MOPAC. In relation to the terms, S93 enables the MOPAC to include terms providing for the commercial sponsorship of any activity of the MOPAC or the MPS.

4.3. The MOPAC Scheme of Delegation at Clause 5.6 requires all individual gifts, loans of property or sponsorship with an estimated market value in excess of £50,000 to be referred to the DMPC for approval.

5. GDPR and Data Privacy

5.1. This project does not use personally identifiable data of members of the public, so there are no GDPR issues to be considered.

6. Equality Comments

6.1. There are not considered to be equality or diversity implications arising from this procurement process.

7. Background/supporting papers

7.1. None.