A VISION of the future to send a smile across Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott's face appeared in Bournemouth this week for the Labour Party Conference. A year ahead of the expected official arrival of the DaimlerChrysler Smart car, Bournemouth police acquired one to patrol the conference, supplied by importer Smart Cars UK, which is based in the conference town.

The standard car has a 599cc petrol engine, putting out 44.25bhp at 5,250rpm, has a top speed of 84mph, and a torque figure of 52lb-ft at 3,000rpm. It also has a combined fuel consumption of 58mpg. Nearly 100 extra vehicles have been drafted in for the conference but the force is not expecting the 8ft-long car to become a permanent feature on the Dorset force's fleet and will be returned when the conference ends.