Criminals will be kept cool in Victoria's new police 'divvy' vans, but they'll also be unable to escape the watchful eye of the law.
Nearly 300 new division vans will be gradually deployed across the state from February to replace ageing vehicles, Victoria Police announced on Wednesday.
The new fleet - made up of 250 two-door vans and 40 four-door, four-wheel drives - are fitted with air conditioning in the custody cabin and another camera providing a 360-degree view of people in custody.
The cars will also have more storage for police members and a louder, digital siren.
Assistant Commissioner Stephen Leane said the fleet will mean a more comfortable ride for those "going home in the back of a divvy van".
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"But it's (also) much more comfortable up front," he told reporters on Wednesday.
The new vans are higher than their predecessors, a factor the assistant commissioner said has become particularly important amid the popularity of SUVs.
"It'll give our members an opportunity to actually sit higher in the traffic," he said.
Police Minister Lisa Neville said she was confident the new vans were the safest car possible for Victoria's police members.
She thought the vehicles, based on the Holden Colorado, looked "stronger" too.
"It sends a strong message to the community, it shows a strong police presence," she said.
