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)
“The river’s tent is broken; the last fingers of leaf
Clutch and sink into the wet bank. The wind
Crosses the brown land, unheard. The nymphs are departed.
Sweet Thames, run softly, till I end my song.
The river bears no empty bottles, sandwich papers,
Silk handkerchiefs, cardboard boxes, cigarette ends
Or other testimony of summer nights.”
—T.S. (Thomas Stearns)