Originally Posted by
tigerfish
Consider this! In 2008 the UK had one of the best Police Air support systems in the World. From memory 33 Helicopters operating from 27 bases provided excellent and efficient coverage over most of the UK. Despite the machines themselves being owned and operated by independent Forces or consortiums of forces, we all recognised the importance of mutual support because inevitably due to planned or unplanned maintenance we would have down time, so our neighbours would provide cover, in the knowledge we would do the same when they were down. It worked!
The development of equipment was continuously improving and training for both Pilots and crew members was good.
Then along came NPAS, reduced the fleet and bases by over 50% and tried to convince everyone that it would be better! It could never have been better or even as good given the greater distances that all the aircraft had to fly. The Concept of a National Police Air Wing was a good one. But it needed to be managed Regionally and as a way of improving coverage and efficiency by way of standardisation of training and purchases in bulk etc. NEVER solely as a way of saving money, and to hell with beating crime and providing cover to hard working coppers on the ground.
NPAS never did understand what POLICE Air support was all about. That is why it has been an abject failure!
TF
I have nothing to add to what TF said, it's just that it was such an accurate summary of what happened it deserved to be said twice. I had the pleasure of meeting TF when police air support was at its height and was saddened by his downfall for speaking the truth.