175mph weapon to catch criminals

IT may be an unassuming four-door saloon, but criminals should think twice before trying to out-run this police car.

Humberside Police's vehicle crime unit has taken delivery of a new Lexus, a brand more associated with company executives than crime-fighters.

But this £40,000, 420hp super-car, boasts a five-litre V8 engine and goes from 0mph to 62mph in under 4.5 seconds.

The Lexus IS-F – which has been designed by specialist Japanese engineers and tested at the legendary Fuji Speedway in the foothills of Mount Fuji – can travel at exceptionally high speeds and has been restricted to 175mph for the force's use.

The force is thought to be the world's first to use the IS-F, which has been kitted out with more than £30,000 of police equipment. It is the latest addition to the force's arsenal to tackle criminals who are increasingly using faster cars.

Sergeant Mike Peck said: "There are criminals using the roads across not only Hull and the East Riding, but the wider Yorkshire region as well, and they have very fast cars at their disposal.

"The IS-F has buckets of power and due to the size of the engine is quite happy cruising at over 100mph – when other smaller engined cars may be pushing their limits.

"The 0-62mph speed is really the important bit of the performance. It is almost as quick from 60 to 120. Very few cars on the road get anywhere near this, apart from a few Ferraris."

The car, which comes with an eight-speed gearbox, was purchased last year but has spent several months at an electrical specialists in Walsall to have the vast array of equipment fitted.

Despite the addition of several computer systems, which give officers access to the same systems in the car as an officer has at his desk, no performance has been lost.

Steve Kelly, the principal dealer for Lexus Hull in Saxon Way, Priory Park, Hessle, said the vehicle's performance was impressive.

He said: "Not only is the 0-60 blistering, but the mid-range acceleration is phenomenal."

The force's vehicle crime team, which was formed just over four years ago, has seen almost 2,000 people convicted.