AB 1 Number Plate

A former chief constable has bought the first number plate AB 1 issued to the county after a police boss put the number plate up for sale.

The West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion faced a backlash from ex-officers after he decided to sell the cherished AB 1 number plate to raise money for police funds.

Mr Campion said the car number plate had not been used for six years for security reasons and said the force was unlikely to use the car number plate on any of its vehicles in the future. His decision however sparked an angry backlash from several former police officers including Alan Matthews who launched a petition against the sale and which attracted 895 supporters.

The AB 1 cherished car registration number was traditionally displayed on the staff cars of the Worcestershires chief constables.

Paul West a former West Mercia Police chief constable has reassured retired officers that the piece of police heritage is safe in his possession.

It has been reported that Mr West purchased the AB 1 Cherished car registration number for £160,000 despite estimates that it was worth between £225,000 and £275,000.

‘I strongly opposed the sale’ he said and once I  knew it was back on the open market we made a decision within the family and we decided we had to buy it.

The former chief constable said he is looking forward to once again driving around in a car which uses the historic car number plate. He also said that he will not sell the cherished number plate during his lifetime and that he will pass it onto his family when he dies.

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