As far as the preferred colours goes - 'On the button' Fortyodd. But the Home Office might still insist on their conspicuity scheme by the time the first machine goes in the paint shop later this year.
That Times article is not to be taken as gospel ... at one point it seems to suggest that the three 145s are being added to the existing fleet of 355Ns.. things may change but the last time around they had returned to getting rid of them. All three aircraft are in the UK awaiting role equipment. Brushing off the dust might be a major consideration on No3 meanwhile. And if the Met get any one of those aircraft for just £3M there will be a major Commons Enquiry. They could hold it in one of the hospitality boxes at Twickenham!
In general the Times thing seems to be written from a firearms rather that air support aspect. Since the firearms team left the same site as the helicopter in Loughton for the wilds of Kent there is a greater need for SWAT transport to get them back to the city when needed... all pushed along by 9/11 and 7/7 considerations. Loughton was 5 minutes but I am not sure of the flight time from their new firearms base... 10? 15?