Windy,
I think TC's comments re BALPA needed addressing. I think "market adjustments" don't just happen - they are pushed. Ask virtually any pilot who worked for PAS before 2002 (when PAS and BALPA signed a recognition agreedment) about waiting for these things to just happen. Some VERY poorly paid pilots had significant improvements at the time, and a transparent pay structure was agreed. (a suspiciously similar structure has subsequently been adopted by a company also based at Staverton)
However, more work needs to be done in the light of recent rotary pay deals.
If all police/hems providers had negotiating agreements with their pilots through BALPA, then the state of the pilot market could be addressed with the police forces and home office by a united front of operators. This would be the best chance of reaching better terms for pilots and ensuring the retention of experienced hands.