Droopy Thanks for responding, and your answer - "It depends" - is perfect.
I didn't think MG asked the question to get anyone into trouble. My only concern was that if the discussion revealed the pilot was clearly in breach of Rule 5, MG and/or other pilots at the same ASU might be placed in a difficult position if the local police asked the same question again - either in relation to the same landing site or another similar one. (It was this aspect which led me to say I agreed with Headsethair's approach - not what appear to be his views about police pilots in general.)
Re CAA prosecutions:
Either your experience was an exception, or they've improved since. I have many criticisms of the CAA's prosecution policy and, particularly, the way they conduct prosecutions, but I've always found them to be well prepared. They do have two weaknesses which can be seen in virtually every case they prosecute - but I'm not going to go into those for obvious reasons.
jayteeto
"We didn't tell the bobbies it was illegal and although an opinion was passed, they were directed to the proper authorities." I won't jump to any conclusions about what 'opinion was passed' or who is meant by 'the proper authorities.'
I have great respect for police pilots, not least because I know only pilots with years of experience flying in varying and challenging conditions are recruited. Most stress that they are civilian pilots employed by the police, not policemen - although, just occasionally, some posts in this forum over the years give the impression that one or two might have 'gone native.'
Strong views tend to be expressed in each direction whenever the issue of to what extent (if at all) ASUs do or should 'police' aviators has been discussed here, but the consensus usually seems to be 'only in extreme circumstances'.
Headsethair Your last para is a little harsh. There's a big difference (for most people) between learning a mass of rules to pass the air law exam and remembering the details years later. We tend to remember the rules which relate to the type of flying we do.
eg Pilots whose flying has mainly been under Mil rules and then as police pilots (exempt from some parts of Rule 5) might well not remember the precise rules which relate to normal commercial ops or private flights. Similarly, a professional pilot who flies only public transport may know the public transport rules very well, but not remember if the rules for private flights are less strict because he doesn't need to.
You say the answer is 'as ever' in the ANO. Only up to a point. Looking at the ANO Article 129 will give you a (not very helpful) definition of a congested area, but it won't answer MG's original question. For that, you need to read the Rules of the Air Regs, in particular Rule 5 which, even by the standards of (notoriously badly drafted UK aviation legislation), is a good example of how a law should
not be drafted.
If such a flight would be unlawful under Rule 5, an exemption would be required and we have no way of knowing if one was granted.