Fleet profile
Fleet profile: Tim Sykes, head of fleet services at Cheshire Police (Cheshire Constabulary)
Rachel Boagey hears how Tim Sykes keeps Cheshire’s 740-strong police fleet safe, roadworthy and ready for action – thanks to a hands-on, in-house maintenance approach.
im Sykes is head of fleet services for Cheshire Constabulary, which is in the North West of England – surrounded by five other regional forces who work closely together. Sykes is Oldham born and bred and still lives in that neck of the woods in Bury, North Manchester, The dedicated fleet manager commutes into Cheshire every day to meet his 28-strong fleet team, including fleet services manager Julie Cradock, who he describes as the driving force behind all fleet change and improvement. With 740 vehicles under his watch – including cars, vans, HGVs, motorbikes, trailers, bicycles, outdoor motors and generators – Sykes’ role is as varied as the fleet he manages.
T
From technician to head of fleet: A career built on the workshop floor
Sykes has led Cheshire Constabulary’s fleet services since 2018, following a 25-year career at Greater Manchester Police. “I started as a technician back in 1985 and gradually worked my way up to workshop manager,” he says. “Cheshire was the next step – a head of fleet role – and I was lucky enough to be appointed.”
Now based in a quieter, more rural part of the country, Sykes appreciates the difference it makes – not just to the driving experience, but to the condition of the vehicles themselves. “I work in a wonderful environment, surrounded by fantastic scenery,” he says. “There’s very little urban congestion here, but with lots of town driving, fast roads and the largest number of motorway miles in any UK county, we have a very specific set of challenges maintaining our fleet.” Compared to neighbouring forces in more built- up areas, Cheshire’s fleet escapes the punishing effects of city driving. “Urban environments can really take their toll,” Sykes explains. “We don’t have as much stop-start traffic, but our numerous towns, speed bumps, potholes and lots of heavy braking on our fast roads – they all accelerate wear. For forces like Manchester and Merseyside, diesel engines don’t always get the chance to run hot, which leads to emissions issues. We’re fortunate we don’t have that problem to the same extent.”
On patrol and under control
Cheshire Constabulary carries out the vast majority of its fleet maintenance in-house at its fully equipped on-site workshops. “We have specialists in a range of areas,” says Sykes. “Our team handles everything except collision repairs, which we currently outsource.”
The 28-person fleet team is split between operations and workshop, where hands- on maintenance occurs. Their mission is
18 | May/June 2025 |
www.businesscar.co.uk
straightforward: to provide safe, reliable and fit- for-purpose vehicles for officers and staff. That starts with protecting the people who maintain them. “Health and safety are critical,” Sykes says. “It’s manual work, so we’re constantly reviewing procedures and updating training to minimise risks – from slips and trips to strain injuries. We look after our people, and in turn, they look after the fleet.”
Keeping maintenance in-house also gives the team control and agility. “We still have to send vehicles back to a dealer for warranty work, but there are inevitable delays with dealers,” he explains. “With our own workshops, we decide what gets done and when – which helps us keep the fleet on the road.”
A different kind of wear and tear Although the streets of Cheshire are less punishing than those of nearby counties, all police vehicles endure a different kind of usage than the average road car, so the force believes in preventative maintenance. “That means we don’t just wait until something breaks – we anticipate problems before they cause issues,” says Sykes. “Even our lowest-mileage vehicles are serviced at least once a year, but most come in every 8,000 to 10,000 miles. Basically, whatever timeframe or miles the manufacturer advises for services, we’ll do it at least twice as often.”
This proactive approach ensures no vehicle goes too long without attention, regardless of how much it’s used. “The public always asks if our
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53
