Speed camera story - RAF vs North Berwick Police

[Bruce Fielding]

Two British traffic patrol officers from North Berwick were involved in an unusual incident while checking for speeding motorists on the A1 Great North Road. One of the officers used a hand held radar device to check the speed of a vehicle approaching over the crest of a hill, and was surprised when the speed was recorded at over 300 mph. Their radar suddenly stopped working and the officers were not able to reset it.

Just then a deafening roar over the tree tops revealed that the radar had in fact latched on to a NATO Tornado fighter jet which was engaged in low flying exercise over the Border district, approaching from the North Sea.
Back at police headquarters the chief constable fired off a stiff letter of complaint to the RAF Liaison Office.

By return came the reply in true laconic RAF style:

"Thank you for your message, which now allows us to complete the file on this incident. You may be interested to know that the tactical computer in the Tornado had detected the presence of, and subsequently locked onto, your hostile radar equipment and automatically sent a jamming signal back to it. Furthermore, an air-to-ground missile aboard the fully-armed aircraft had also automatically locked onto your equipment. Fortunately the pilot flying the Tornado recognized the situation for what it was, quickly responded to the missile systems alert status, and was able to override the automated defence system before the missile was launched and your hostile radar installation was destroyed. Good Day"

[smokin]

I remember the incident well. Must have been at least a decade ago but still makes me smile whenever I see roadside speed traps and plod with the radar guns. Wish I could outfit the atom with some stingers

[PaulP]

I'm afraid many plods drive BMWs equipped with run flats nowadays. So Stinger won't help you.

[smokin]

was thinking of stinger missiles rather than those strips of nails, but having checked I'm mistaken as Stingers are surface-2-air. Probably need something like FGM-148 Javelin

[Sir Nick]

Love it

[meladdo]

[quote="PaulP"]
I'm afraid many plods drive BMWs equipped with run flats nowadays. So Stinger won't help you.
[/quote]

Waves hand in Jedi mind altering style - Thats not the stinger he was looking for....