Hi Jason,
The reason that teams have local logos is to identify the fact that they are local, people prefer to be members of something relatively local rather than national. Whether it be the local Mountain Rescue Team, Lifeboat crew Fire Service etc.
As far as I am aware every Police force has the word Police on their vehicles, but also identifies which force they belong to with the Force logo and also the LOCAL force website, often also with the local force "slogan".
This is the same for the NHS Ambulance service, Fire Brigade, Mountain Rescue and other organisations which are locally based but with a national identity.
That is the whole concept behind the National network, local groups speaking to local user bodies but SUPPORTED by the national network.
Just as there is no NATIONAL Police Force, or Ambulance services, but local services working to NATIONAL 'policies' interpreted for local conditions.
So it is with 4x4 Response we have local groups throughout the UK, under local control working to local users but providing mutual support to other groups AND other local charities as and when required with a commonality of purpose.
To take a local example from my area
All Police cars say POLICE we say 4x4 RESPONSE,
Avon & Somerset Police cars say on the sides Avon & Somerset Constabulary we say Wessex 4x4 Response.
Avon & Somerset cars have the web address
www.avonandsomerset.police.uk we have the web address
www.wessex4x4response.org.uk
Hence both Tony and I saying that we provide the recognised 4x4 response sticker, but local teams need to sort out their local stickers to identify the local team.
Avon & Somerset Police do not wear exactly the same uniform as Dorset or Gloucestershire etc, in fact not all members of the same force wear the same uniform but everyone recognises them as police because they are SIMILAR, even when one officer is in a white long sleeved shirt and the other is in a black poloshirt.
This might help to explain the view of the trustees.
There is certainly no intention for "4x4 Resonse" i.e. the national network to become the governing body, or impose specific standards but we do want member groups to work together .
As we say
Quote:
What ā4x4 responseā is not, is a governing organisation and therefore we do not aim to tell groups that they have to adopt any logos, uniforms, or equipment, although they may well choose to adopt these based on National Guidelines something that we would encourage
As trustees we aim to encourage, not force groups to come to a concensus and adopt the best practises around the country.
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