**2.1 Usability of new special vehicles**

The Police CR have been using a type of special vehicle with water cannon for a long time. This vehicle type had been widely used before 1989 when they served as coercive means to forcibly end demonstrations. After this year, the water cannon vehicle remained in use by the riot police, but with a strong reduction in their numbers. A lack of these vehicles was later manifested in mass demonstrations on the occasion of the meeting of the Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Prague in 2000 when other vehicles of the Czech Army and Fire Brigade had to be called. The vehicles have now been upgraded, but their numbers and technical condition are currently very low and several vehicles are immobile. Public Order Police Headquarters exploits available possibilities to communicate with other EU countries, where they also deal with legal issues of using a water cannon type vehicle as a coercive means. All neighboring states have included these vehicles in their equipment itinerary, but their use varies according to the legal framework. In this respect, the possibility of using a vehicle as a coercion mean under the Police ČR Act is at the same and often a higher level than abroad. On the other hand, we must state that massive demonstrations are taking place in all neighboring countries with significant disturbances to public order, while in our country, eventual demonstrations are less numerous and calmer. However, it is not possible to predict future developments in the Czech Republic based on this situation, especially concerning the immigration crisis and open borders within the Schengen area. It is, therefore, necessary to have such a coercion means available to protect the life and

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negotiations of the team).

*The Police Development and Protection of Soft Targets DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92072*

g) forcing out using a vehicle.

usage (**Table 1**).

health of intervening police officers, while at the same time allowing termination or at least disrupting such unlawful conduct. Water cannon type vehicles included in the riot police service are a single-purpose vehicle, which its construction is based on the basic fire brigade special vehicle and their parameters and characteristics have not complied with the requirements of the Czech Police for several years. Their deployment is also problematic with regards to their size, maneuverability, and possible documentation of unlawful conduct. As a result of the combination of these elements and characteristics, the vehicles are mainly used for demonstrations and exercises but remain largely unused during safety or security measures. The usability of future vehicles was a key prerequisite in the development of the multifunction vehicle concept. The ŘSPP are fully aware of the duties of proper management and that is why it proposes to change the systemization of these service vehicles when these special vehicles of water cannon type will be replaced by a special multifunction vehicles with a water cannon fitted. The aforementioned amendment shall not affect the wording and interpretation of Act No. 273/2008 Coll., within the Police of the Czech Republic, § 52 let. k) a water cannon, as this is an extension of the name of the official operation transport means. The new concept drafted vehicle envisages that the scope of this act will extend the possibilities of use also for coercive means mentioned under b) tear-forming, electric or other temporarily disabling means, letter f) stopping belt, blocking the road forcibly, stopping the vehicle or preventing the vehicle from escaping and avoiding capture and letter

In addition to the repressive characteristics of the vehicle, it is also necessary to emphasize its tactical capabilities. The technology that the ŘSPP plans to apply will allow on-line transmission of video (or sound) to the headquarters of a particular situation, documentation of unlawful conduct, making calls or communicating information, and a two-way communication with the headquarters of the situation which is being met or with the control center and intervention units. In addition to this, the vehicle will be able to transmit images from areas affected by a natural disaster, industrial accident, a polluted or otherwise contaminated area or from areas otherwise inaccessible. The ŘSPP dealt with the question of usability concerning the individual units of the Police ČR. Upon the analysis of typical and extraordinary activities performed by the Police ČR, the vehicle is required to have defined characteristics and its technical equipment was then designed. Considering that technological and technical developments are moving forward very quickly, there is a possibility for further expansion within the requirements of the live deployment of the vehicle. The following table compares existing water cannons and planned multifunction vehicles regarding their deployment possibilities for various activities and

From the table above, it is clear that the vehicle could be used for numerous operational activities. The reason why the work team and the ŘSPP prefer a multifunction vehicle is based on two factors. The possibility of universal and frequent deployment and saving money, compared to the purchase of more single-purpose vehicles. The actual deployment (in the case of a security measure) is another decisive element that would require at least three separate vehicles with their crew, which then deprive the maneuvering space of intervention units and three crews are therefore necessary, who could have been deployed elsewhere and otherwise. It should be noted that the idea of a universal vehicle, which has been developed by the ŘSPP since 2015, instigated by discussions held by a team of professionals, is going in the right direction. Today we can already see one fire-fighting special vehicle produced by Hlučín Fire Brigade; however, it lacks the basic and essential

**Technical specification** (serving just as a base for proposal and numerous

characteristics of this police multifunction vehicle.

#### *The Police Development and Protection of Soft Targets DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92072*

health of intervening police officers, while at the same time allowing termination or at least disrupting such unlawful conduct. Water cannon type vehicles included in the riot police service are a single-purpose vehicle, which its construction is based on the basic fire brigade special vehicle and their parameters and characteristics have not complied with the requirements of the Czech Police for several years. Their deployment is also problematic with regards to their size, maneuverability, and possible documentation of unlawful conduct. As a result of the combination of these elements and characteristics, the vehicles are mainly used for demonstrations and exercises but remain largely unused during safety or security measures. The usability of future vehicles was a key prerequisite in the development of the multifunction vehicle concept. The ŘSPP are fully aware of the duties of proper management and that is why it proposes to change the systemization of these service vehicles when these special vehicles of water cannon type will be replaced by a special multifunction vehicles with a water cannon fitted. The aforementioned amendment shall not affect the wording and interpretation of Act No. 273/2008 Coll., within the Police of the Czech Republic, § 52 let. k) a water cannon, as this is an extension of the name of the official operation transport means. The new concept drafted vehicle envisages that the scope of this act will extend the possibilities of use also for coercive means mentioned under b) tear-forming, electric or other temporarily disabling means, letter f) stopping belt, blocking the road forcibly, stopping the vehicle or preventing the vehicle from escaping and avoiding capture and letter g) forcing out using a vehicle.

In addition to the repressive characteristics of the vehicle, it is also necessary to emphasize its tactical capabilities. The technology that the ŘSPP plans to apply will allow on-line transmission of video (or sound) to the headquarters of a particular situation, documentation of unlawful conduct, making calls or communicating information, and a two-way communication with the headquarters of the situation which is being met or with the control center and intervention units. In addition to this, the vehicle will be able to transmit images from areas affected by a natural disaster, industrial accident, a polluted or otherwise contaminated area or from areas otherwise inaccessible. The ŘSPP dealt with the question of usability concerning the individual units of the Police ČR. Upon the analysis of typical and extraordinary activities performed by the Police ČR, the vehicle is required to have defined characteristics and its technical equipment was then designed. Considering that technological and technical developments are moving forward very quickly, there is a possibility for further expansion within the requirements of the live deployment of the vehicle.

The following table compares existing water cannons and planned multifunction vehicles regarding their deployment possibilities for various activities and usage (**Table 1**).

From the table above, it is clear that the vehicle could be used for numerous operational activities. The reason why the work team and the ŘSPP prefer a multifunction vehicle is based on two factors. The possibility of universal and frequent deployment and saving money, compared to the purchase of more single-purpose vehicles. The actual deployment (in the case of a security measure) is another decisive element that would require at least three separate vehicles with their crew, which then deprive the maneuvering space of intervention units and three crews are therefore necessary, who could have been deployed elsewhere and otherwise. It should be noted that the idea of a universal vehicle, which has been developed by the ŘSPP since 2015, instigated by discussions held by a team of professionals, is going in the right direction. Today we can already see one fire-fighting special vehicle produced by Hlučín Fire Brigade; however, it lacks the basic and essential characteristics of this police multifunction vehicle.

**Technical specification** (serving just as a base for proposal and numerous negotiations of the team).


#### **Table 1.**

*Table of possibilities and a quick comparison of water cannon and multifunction vehicles.*

## **2.2 Vehicle basic characteristics and equipment**

#### (1) **Dimensions**

	- Maximum transport height (without displaced accessories) is set for underpasses and overhead lines in cities, passages to prisons and other enclosed spaces

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*The Police Development and Protection of Soft Targets DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92072*

c. Length - maximum length is not defined

a. Turning diameter – near to 14 m and less

including water obstacles and vertical steps

• Driving on roads and paved roads in normal traffic • Driving on field and forest roads in any weather • Driving on unpaved terrain on all types of surface • Wading ability up to 1,200 mm without preparation

• Ability to overcome vertical steps up to 500 mm • Ability to overcome trenches up to 500 mm wide

• "Run Flat" construction rough-terrain tires

• Pressure change possible from the driver's cabin

• Particular type will depend on the chassis used

e. Chassis and drive – 4 × 4, both axles steerable

• Max. speed 115 km/h (speed limiter)

• Automatic inflation system in case of a small puncture

c. Engine power – min. 18kW/t

d. Tyres – 14,00 R20 or 16,00 R20

f. Other characteristics

500 km

• Maximum width is set for passage through streets and to meet road traffic rules, when vehicles with a wider width are considered as exceptional and

maneuverability being dependant also on the vehicles length will also be a

• This is a key factor because the vehicle must be able to pass to the same locations as the VW Crafter (turning diameter 13.6 m) – riot squad vehicles.

• Engine cannot be specified by type, but power values must be set depending on the total weight (maximum instantaneous vehicle weight)

• This special requirement is based on the comparison with other available similar vehicles with this type of chassis and is then a key requirement

• The possibility to change smoothly the height clearance from the driver's cab • The range without refueling (road, at constant speed 90 km/h) to be at least

b. Terrain passage – the vehicle must be able to pass through heavy terrain

• The length shall coincide with vehicle chassis; however, the vehicles

their operation requires special regime and permission.

determining factor. Therefore, the shorter the better.

b. Max. width 2.550 mm

(2) **Driveability**

	- Maximum width is set for passage through streets and to meet road traffic rules, when vehicles with a wider width are considered as exceptional and their operation requires special regime and permission.
	- The length shall coincide with vehicle chassis; however, the vehicles maneuverability being dependant also on the vehicles length will also be a determining factor. Therefore, the shorter the better.
