Corgi VA11012 Ford Escort Mk3 XR3i - Durham Constabulary

The XR3i model was based at Darlington Police Station from 1983 under the call sign M10D, or more usually 'Mike 10'. It was used by 'Traffic' and was one of two XR3is employed by the Constabulary in this role during that period with the other, A277 BJR, being based at Peterlee; both were later replaced by Astra GTEs. The XR3i was an ideal urban traffic car because it was relatively small and nimble but genuinely fast enough to carry out all the tasks demanded by this role. It was thus a formidable weapon in the fight against car crime although, ironically, XR3is were one of the most commonly stolen cars of that era...