Criminal Cars Put Students On Road To Success
21 October 2010
Ken Campbell from Derbyshire Constabulary joined lecturers and students at Buxton's Harpur Hill Workshop
It's fantastic to have these new cars in the workshop. They're the newest cars we've ever had.
”Helen Gilles, VRQ student
Cars seized from criminals will help students learn the basics of motor mechanics, after Derbyshire Police lent 15 vehicles and three engines to Buxton College, part of the University of Derby Buxton.
Ken Campbell, Contract Services Facilities and Site manager from Derbyshire Constabulary's headquarters at Ripley, visited the College's Harpur Hill motor vehicle workshop on October 20 to see Motor Vehicle NVQ and VRQ students start work on the donated vehicles.
The students will use the cars, including a Ford Mondeo and a Mazda Coupe, motorcycles and engines to develop their knowledge of motor vehicles' electrical and mechanical systems and test their practical skills.
Lecturer on the Motor Vehicle courses at Buxton College, Graham Alsop, said: "We're very grateful to Derbyshire Constabulary for giving our students these vehicles to work on. Students will learn how to remove and replace engine units and component parts, and how to do diagnostic tests. It's really important that they get to practise their skills on newer vehicles like these, so they're ready for anything once they get into work."
Ken Campbell said: "I'm delighted that we can help the College in this way. These vehicles have been seized from people involved in criminal activities and several have been confiscated or subject of destruction orders issued by the courts.
"The vehicles were seized by the police for a variety of reasons including offences involving drugs, dishonesty and being used without insurance. It's good to see the vehicles being used in a constructive and useful way."
"Normally all the vehicles are scrapped and recycled but the Chief Constable, Mick Creedon approved the loan of these vehicles to assist Buxton College with the training of students studying for a Motor Vehicle NVQ."
VRQ student Helen Gilles said: "It's fantastic to have these new cars in the workshop. They're the newest cars we've ever had so now we're able to use diagnostics like a four gas anaylser."
Once students have finished work on the cars, they will be returned to Derbyshire Constabulary and recycled. None of the vehicles nor engines will return to the roads.
For more information please contact Press & PR Officer Joanna Colburn on 01332 593004 or 07775 036988, or email j.colburn@derby.ac.uk
