Irrespective of who would make the best observer; policeman or civilian - Is the argument simply this, if the selection process were opened up to all, then diversity enters the equation. One would be forced to consider those chaps for whom a helping hand was felt necessary when the role demands a standard of excellence for all. Simply slotting 40 year old housewives or some of our less able ethnic chums into the rota simply to please witless HR types is a major distraction for all with a consequent reduction in efficiency. Once progressed into the second or third 'generation' the ASU will have suffered a massive dilution of expertise and will end up concentrating its efforts on child minding, pregnancy management, and endless 'on the job' training days.