If you see a higher than average number of police driving (below the speed limit, we hope) around Gloucestershire on Monday (Feb 18) in new cars there is a very good reason for it.

Officers from the county's constabulary are due to gather for something not unlike a 'car cruise' (but all above board, of course) and staged at the force's headquarters at Waterwell Business Park, Quedgeley.

The name of the event - testing a fleet of electric vehicles.

Martin Surl, Gloucestershire's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), is the man taking credit for driving the initiative, being billed as his bid to keep the county 'green and pleasant' by removing petrol and diesel vehicles from the roads.

Those who remember the 'hey-days' when police chased villains and burnt rubber in V8 Rovers may wonder whether the Renault Zoe, at just under 84mph, will intimidate in the same way.

Will getaway drivers tremble when they look in their rear-view mirror and see the 90mph Nissan Leaf fluttering into view?

Perhaps the more muscular Hyundai Kon, with a 0-60mph of just under 8 seconds and a top speed in excess of 100mph will be their future car of choice?

Keys to all of them will be in the bowl on Monday ready to test.

Whizzing around in new, speedy, plush, probably high performance electric cars may look like a whole lot of 'good clean fun' to many, but rest assured this is a very serious business.

Officers from the constabulary will be choosing their next response, patrol or neighbourhood policing vehicles.

We wish them well.