VOLKSWAGEN is preparing to have a brush with the law, by trialing a liveried police car with a number of forces around the country.

It is providing a Passat Estate S 1.9-litre TDI 130 PS, first displayed at the National Association of Police Fleet Managers conference, held at Wroughton near Swindon in August.

Now on a rolling demonstration programme, the Passat is being tried by police forces around the country.

So far it has been brake and performance tested by the Metropolitan Police.

The Passat is currently on test with John Bradley, fleet manager at Hampshire Police, who said: 'Volkswagens are always a sound investment for the police, with high quality and reliability as well as low running costs and good residual values at disposal.

'The Passat performs well and the responses from officers who have driven it suggest that the handling, braking, comfort, as well as build quality and overall performance, would make it an excellent frontline patrol car.'

Police forces are now able to place orders for it under the Home Office framework and as such it is the first marked police operational Volkswagen to feature on the national police vehicle choice list.