To the casual observer, it looks like any other Ford motor car - albeit with flashing blue lights and a distinctive bright livery.

https://twitter.com/ipseastpolice/status/1045273819932504064?s=11

But inside this well-equipped police response vehicle is everything an officer might need to deal with a breaking incident, disturbance or unfolding crime.

Suffolk Constabulary’s Ipswich East safer neighbourhood team revealed just some of the items they carry in their response vehicles when they Tweeted a copy of the inventory they use to check their vehicles fully stocked with everything they need.

Many of the items are what you would expect - police scene tape for cordoning off crime scenes, red and white cones for closing off roads in the event of an accident and a scene log for recording details of what happened during an incident.

Others though are perhaps more surprising - officers for example carry escape hoods for protection against smoke and gases and also have hard hats, safety glasses and earplugs to give them extra protection in certain situations.

East Anglian Daily Times: Picture: EDMUND CROSTHWAITEPicture: EDMUND CROSTHWAITE (Image: Archant)

There is also a saw, shovel and a broom along with a safety knife, emergency hammer and bolt croppers.

PCs also carry a spit mask to put over offenders they are restraining who might spit on them and they also have a fire extinguisher, heavy duty gloves and goggles.

There is also a tin foil space blanket to drape over those who may need to kept warm in emergencies, smart water torch for searching rivers and lakes and a knife container for any blades found.

The smaller items on the inventory, which also include dog spray and a hand swab kit, are stored away in a small bag inside the vehicle to make it quicker for police to do regular checks.

The full list includes:

? Accident panels x2

? Arrow panels x2

? Slow panels x2

? Road closed panels x2

? Sign stands x2

? Red and white cones x5

? Blue flashing lamps x4

? Fire extinguisher x1

? Saw x1

? Shovel x1

? Broom x1

? Sealed first aid kit x1

? Map book x1

? Draeger breathalyser x1

? Sat nav x1

? Pegs for SOCO cones x2

? SOCO cones x2

? Blanket in bag x1

? Access card to police investigation centre x1

? Hard hats x2

? Safety glasses x1

? Ear plugs x1

? Spit hood x1

? Police scene tape x1

? Scene log x1

? Early evidence kit x1

? Hand swab kit x1

? Sexual offences kit or vehicle seat cover x1

? Bolt croppers x1

? Dog spray x1

? Emergency hammer x1

? Yellow spray can x1

? Safety knife x1

? Crowbar x1

? Knife container x1

? Smart water torch x1

? Disposable face mask x1

? Hand sanitiser x1

? Sharps box x1

? Heavy duty gloves x1

? Goggles x1

? Tape measure x1

? Escape hood x2