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Salvaged Huntersville Police Department vehicle finds new life in film across the pond



A fully-marked former Huntersville Police Department patrol car, apparently salvaged from an insurance company, has become a curious attraction in Blackpool, England.Ashley Robinson

A fully-marked former Huntersville Police Department patrol car, apparently salvaged from an insurance company, has become a curious attraction in Blackpool, England. /Ashley Rolinson

HUNTERSVILLE – The police cruiser appears set for duty.

With “Huntersville Police” clearly posted on the side, “www.huntersvillepd.org” across the rear bumper and the department’s signature motto “Honor, Professionalism, Dedication” spelled out behind the right rear tire, patrol car 301 would be a common sight in Birkdale or Bryton.

But Blackpool? As in the Blackpool, Lancashire and Lytham St. Annes area along the west coast of England near the Irish Sea? Well, as it turns out, absolutely.

A recent email sent “across the pond” by a Lancashire bartender named Ashley Rolinson indicates that the clearly marked and seemingly fit-for-duty patrol car has become quite the attraction. In his email, Rolinson wrote:

“It’s nice to see your police serving and protecting on this side of the pond, this is one of about 5 Huntersville police cars around Blackpool and Lytham St Annes on sea. no one seems to know whether they are filming here (Blackpool and St Annes and Lytham are known for filming (movies) like Miss Peregrines Home for Wayward Children, Eaten by Lions and other movies) or whether it was part of a show. And this hasn’t been in the Blackpool evening gazette or the Lancashire evening post so it’s a bit of a mystery.

The once-totaled and apparently restored HPD patrol car 301 has traveled far to become a mysterious part of the scenery in coastal areas of England around Blackpool.

The once-totaled and apparently restored HPD patrol car 301 has traveled far to become a mysterious part of the scenery in coastal areas of England around Blackpool.

Anyhow, Huntersville police force are now famous around here, lol. (considering no one had heard of you guys before as it’s a bit far away) anyway there ya go, a little light hearted news for you from us Sandgrown’uns.”

Mystery (partially) solved

After some basic investigation – including discovering that Sandgrown’uns is how many residents of Blackpool and the seaside region around it proudly describe themselves – it appears the mysterious vehicle is, very likely, a former HPD patrol car.

Interim HPD Chief Bence Hoyle said his department has been aware of the vehicle for several months. Hoyle said an initial review raised concerns that a vendor who purchased used vehicles from the department several years ago failed to remove the lettering and striping on the cars – a clearly-stated condition of the transaction.

The repurposed HPD vehicle is not being used for impersonating police, since law enforcement vehicles in English have completely different markings.

The repurposed HPD vehicle is not being used for impersonating police, since law enforcement vehicles in English have completely different markings.

But a deeper analysis showed that the car in the photo Hoyle saw – and apparently the same photo Rolinson sent with his email – was damaged a few years ago.

“The car, 301, was involved in an on-duty accident,” Hoyle said, “and the insurance company totaled it. They wrote us a check and took possession. It was their car, but I guess somehow they let it go with the striping and markings still in place.”

Holye said members of his department have been in contact with law enforcement officials in England and he said everyone involved agrees that the vehicle is probably being used in the production of a movie or television show.

“The most important thing is, it’s not being used to impersonate police in any way,” Hoyle said, explaining English police cars have completely different color schemes and markings. “Our conclusion is it’s being used in a movie, so it’s really kind of a neat thing, but normally, removing the lettering and striping would be something we’d expect to be done.”

As far as Rolinson’s statement about seeing multiple cars with similar markings, Hoyle said he doubts that is the case.

“We think it’s just one car, the one involved in the accident,” he said. “They could be seeing the same car in various places, and it’s also really not that difficult to mimic the wording and striping if they have the model to follow.

“But based on our records, it’s just the one car.”

Hoyle said he has had several conversations with officers and others in England about the HPD-logo’ed vehicle, and he joked that he tells them it’s the department’s effort to boost tourism and economic development.

“When they ask about Huntersville, I tell them it’s a great place and they should visit sometime,” Hoyle said.

And in reference to the role the former HPD patrol car could be playing in a Blackpool-based production, Hoyle said he’ll keep a close watch on coming attractions.

“I’ve yet to see one of our cars in a movie,” he said. “I think that would be fun.”

14 responses to “Salvaged Huntersville Police Department vehicle finds new life in film across the pond”

  1. Julie sullivan says:

    I saw the car yesterday cruising along Blackpool promenade. Stange sight i thought

    • Alistair says:

      I photographed it yesterday afternoon (20/10/2020) in the Tesco Mereside car park. There is filming of a new Batman movie going on in Liverpool just now, but quite why it would be in Blackpool I have no idea.

  2. Citizen says:

    Its parked in clifton moor home bargains car park York,

  3. Dawn says:

    Just seen it in
    Dalton in Furness. Cumbria.

  4. Andy Metcalf says:

    Spotted in Burnley Lancashire 19.15 06/05/2021

  5. Hi this is most definitely NOT a salvaged car I’m the owner I bought it direct from police the only thing bust was a crossmember under transmission unit and its been fixed thats all that was wrong with it.

  6. Vicky says:

    Seen in Liverpool today

  7. To confirm again this car is NOT a write off or an Insurance write off, although it says it in the article above most police cars are classed as a write off for the smallest things as everything on a police car needs to be 100%, in this case the only damage was a crossmember under the transmission mount that has been replaced with a brand new one, this happened after a police chase shortly before I got the car, I’ve owned the car since 2016 drives like new and is currently for sale 07713149054 if your interested thanks:)

  8. Harley says:

    Saw it this evening at 22:35 cruising through Blackpool town centre, definitely not being used for filming, more of a cool and unique vehicle that the owner gets to us on the streets of Blackpool 😎

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