"but quite happy to claim the UK commercial pilots tax allowance, negotiated by BALPA..."
Do I get these automatically or do I have to ask for them?
Police flying it appears to me is for people who love the actual flying because the helicopter is being used for what it was designed for and is not being restricted by overbearing rules.
The people I know who lfy for the Police are doing it for the quality of the job and private life. We all would love more Money but we all left the Northsea with it's big salaries because to us the money alone did not cut it.
From what my little experience tells me it's down to the contracts and companies wanting to bag certain contracts even if it means there want be much in it but for the prestige.
But I believe in time the money will improve and extra perks will be included.
You could always work for the MET with £65k and shiny EC145, if you did not mind the loss of quality of life.