In British slang, a jam sandwich is a police traffic or fast response car (as opposed to an ordinary panda car or patrol car).
The term came into common use in the 1970s, when such cars changed from the traditional blue and white colour scheme to white with a broad fluorescent orange stripe along the side. This colour scheme is reminiscent of jam sandwiched between two slices of white bread, hence the name. The slang was popularised on such TV shows as The Sweeney and Minder, as well as spreading through the use of CB radio. It is still in common use, although most forces now use different colour schemes with fluorescent stripes and Battenburg markings.
Famous quotes containing the words jam and/or sandwich:
“The rule is, jam tomorrow and jam yesterday—but never jam today.”
—Lewis Carroll [Charles Lutwidge Dodgson] (1832–1898)
“Then he rang the bell and ordered a ham sandwich. When the maid placed the plate on the table, he deliberately looked away but as soon as the door had shut, he grabbed the sandwich with both hands, immediately soiled his fingers and chin with the hanging margin of fat and, grunting greedily, began to much.”
—Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977)