Just a quick response from someone who routinely crews a police aircraft. The main problem when dealing with Police and their managers when it comes to aviation is the obvious one , They havent got a clue . Most senior police officers didnt get to where they are by knowing how to be good cops , in most cases this is quite the contrary. Im sure most of you will agree that policing in this country is a joke , this is primarily due submissive leadership.
On the case in point I have seen our particular unit harrassed and questioned for years over why we dont do things a certain way and why things cost what they cost etc etc etc . Hierarchy do not realise that they do not control how we operate but the CAA do and no matter how much they kick gouge and throw their teddies this will never change . Senior police officers do not understand aviation and very rarely make any effort to understand it , but they will attempt to impose their will on others , as in this case .. The police will see this as their airfield with their aircraft and they dont want the public involved in any way with it , Until it affects their purse strings when all of a sudden you may find their minds are changing .
They will eventually have to go to a RW this is pretty much set in stone it is just a matter of when . They will then correctly not need a big chuffin A/F .
There are many A/f's that are used jointly by police asu's and GA , Barton , Halfpenny Green , Hawarden to name a few . I am not aware of any ill effects or bad relationships at any of these.
To answer one previous question , Islanders are used due to penny pinching , they are significantly cheaper to operate and maintain than Helis in fact it is more than significant . I personally dont think they are as much fun though.
But to reiterate these problems will be caused by ignorant megalomaniac cowardly senior police officers who know jack about avaition after lengthy consultation with others who know squat about aviation