The man who infuriated rank-and-file police officers with his plans for radical reforms of the service is set to take on one of the most important jobs in British policing, it emerged last night.

Tom Winsor, the former rail regulator, will become the first person without a police or service background to take on the job of Chief Inspector of Constabulary for more than 150 years if his appointment to the £195,000-a-year job is confirmed.

The decision prompted immediate anger from many officers following two controversial reviews into police pay and conditions which recommended changes to generous pension provisions and called for financial penalties for unfit officers and an end to the bar on compulsory redundancies.

All this was inspired by the principle--which is quite true within itself--that in the big lie there is always a certain force of credibility; because the broad masses of a nation are always more easily corrupted in the deeper strata of their emotional nature than consciously or voluntarily; and thus in the primitive simplicity of their minds they more readily fall victims to the big lie than the small lie, since they themselves often tell small lies in little matters but would be ashamed to resort to large-scale falsehoods. It would never come into their heads to fabricate colossal untruths, and they would not believe that others could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously. Even though the facts which prove this to be so may be brought clearly to their minds, they will still doubt and waver and will continue to think that there may be some other explanation. For the grossly impudent lie always leaves traces behind it, even after it has been nailed down, a fact which is known to all expert liars in this world and to all who conspire together in the art of lying.

This must be a positive sign, because in the past the other units would have covered from their home bases.

What I meant was that there is a 135 based at Barton at the minute.

So with the possibility of fixed wing and rotary operations does:
1. New Chief Pilot of NPAS require both fixed and rotary wing licences and experience?
2. Is there more expense of two chief pilots, one rotary and one fixed wing
You really get the impression this hasn't been fully worked through.
Why should I be surprised!

..... it no longer mentions the word or the fact NPAS stands for saving money.

Published: 11/06/2012 14:00 - Updated: 11/06/2012 15:30



One of the candidates for Bedfordshire’s police and crime commissioner is calling for the authority to ‘look again’ at plans to close the county’s police helicopter base.
Conservative Bernard Rix says shutting the current base at RAF Henlow next year and moving the helicopters outside the county would leave residents, particularly in rural areas, at risk of not being reached in time during emergency situations.

MP calls for police helicopter cut rethink
Wednesday, June 13, 2012

WITH the Wales Air Ambulance on a call-out in Monmouthshire, efforts to rescue 14-year-old Luke Somerfield from a quarry north of Ammanford were carried out by the Dyfed- Powys Police helicopter.

This helicopter is likely to be lost in 2014 as part of police cuts.

But in light of last week's tragedy, MP Jonathan Edwards has written to Home Secretary Teresa May urging a rethink on what he considers to be a vital service.

"Given the topography of West Wales, I am aware of other instances in which the police helicopter has been used for places where ambulances could not reach in time, or could not reach at all," the Plaid MP said.

"Luke's tragic death highlights the important role the police helicopter plays in assisting our emergency services.