Vehicle ID

[motto]

I hadn't noticed the third such fitting in the middle of the rear door and I haven't seen anything like this arrangement for boarding a vehicle previously.
To weld the doors shut and provide steps for climbing over them seems very odd to me. Has this modification been seen elsewhere?
If the vehicle was intended for the carriage of officers it surely must impose on their decorum, particularly if the roof was in place. I assume the steps and handles were there for emergency exit only and everybody normally entered and alighted from the offside?

David