MANNED BY EITHER PLAIN-CLOTHES OR UNIFORMED OFFICERS, CRIME CARS ARE USED IN BRITAIN TO PATROL FOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN THE WAY THAT TRAFFIC PATROL CARS ARE USED TO PATROL FOR TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS. OF THE 43 POLICE FORCES SURVEYED, 20 DO NOT USE CRIME CARS, 6 USE THEM ON A FULL-TIME BASIS, 5 USE THEM ONLY AT NIGHT, AND 3 USE MODIFIED CRIME CAR SYSTEMS. THE POLICE IN NORTHERN IRELAND OPERATE AN EXTENSIVE CRIME CAR PROGRAM, PRIMARILY IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR ANTI-TERRORIST ACTIVITIES. THE REPORT IDENTIFIES THE AGENCIES THAT DO NOT USE CRIME CARS, AND SUMMARIZES THE EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED BY FOUR SUCH AGENCIES. THE OBJECTIVES, FUNCTIONS, AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE FULL-TIME, NIGHT, AND MODIFIED CRIME CAR SYSTEMS REPORTED BY SURVEY RESPONDENTS ARE OUTLINED. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT CRIME CARS ARE VERY EFFECTIVE IN URBAN AREAS BUT NOT IN RURAL AREAS. HOWEVER, DESPITE THEIR EFFECTIVENESS, THE CARS ARE NOT WIDELY USED. THE BASIC PROBLEM IS THAT CRIME CARS ARE EXPENSIVE TO EQUIP AND REQUIRE OFFICERS WITH CONSIDERABLE DRIVING SKILL. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT SOME OF THE URBAN FORCES THAT DO NOT USE CRIME CARS MIGHT CONSIDER USING THEM AT NIGHT ONLY. (LKM)