Here’s why the police stop using blue lights in a part of the UK

A police force has announced they will sometimes switch off their blue lights – even when they want to get to a scene quickly.

Warwickshire Police have said they will be ‘using our lights and sirens a little bit differently’ in response to calls.

Officers responding to certain incidents will now only turn on their blues to get through traffic or red lights, but otherwise will drive ‘as normal’.

In a social media post yesterday, the force said they will still have their sirens blaring in emergencies.

They said: ‘Every time someone calls us we work behind the scenes to establish what kind of response that needs.

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‘For emergencies where someone needs help right away, that means we’ll be out ‘on blues’ getting there within minutes.’
However, Warwickshire responders will change how they drive for other serious incidents.

The force added: ‘For calls that don’t need an emergency response, but are still important to get to quickly to make sure evidence is gathered and vulnerable people are safeguarded, you’ll see us using blue lights to get through traffic or red lights.

‘Once we’ve got past the potential hazard, you’ll see us switch off our blues and continue driving as normal.’
Officers said the new system will ‘help us to deliver excellent service and get to our communities quicker’.

However the announcement has sparked concerns from locals.

One former officers wrote on Facebook that it’s ‘either a G1 [Grade 1] emergency or not’.

He added: ‘Driving on blues is stressful enough, without adding an extra layer of complexity like this, with no real benefit.’
Another former pursuit commander said: ‘It’s either an immediate response where blue lights and two tones are required using your exemptions or it’s not immediate and standard driving conditions are to be adhered to.’
Other forces have not joined in with Warwickshire police’s new system.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary is not planning to turn their lights off in similar situations, a spokesperson told Metro.

Warwickshire Police have been approached for comment.

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