Electric car charged by police

The car is designed to tackle urban streets

A greener weapon in the fight against crime has been unveiled by the Metropolitan Police in the form of two tiny electric police cars.

The two-seaters have been designed to combat high traffic levels in cities and will be used for general purposes such as burglary reporting and house visits.

Unlike high-powered pursuit cars, the purpose-built TH!NK cars can reach a top speed of just 56 mph and will not have sirens or blue lights.

They can be charged up with a standard three-pin plug and the Metropolitan Police says it is the first time purpose-built electric cars have been used by a police force.

'Revolutionary move'

Sir John Stevens, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, unveiled the car on Friday.

The cars are charged using a standard plug

Mr Stevens said: "This is a revolutionary move for the Met as we seek to introduce new 'greener' and more environmentally-friendly ways of delivering an efficient police service to Londoners.

"I am delighted at their introduction and look forward to hearing about their progress."

The silent cars produce zero emission and have recyclable thermoplastic bodies which are scratch and dent resistance.

It takes less than seven seconds for the cars to reach 30 mph and a fully charged battery has a range of 53 miles.

The police force has leased the vehicles for three years and will be scrutinising their worth as part of the fleet.