Well, I'm feeling in Alan Sugar mode, so here goes....
This whole thread is a misnomer! Kent does NOT have a police helicopter. They're buying hours off Essex, as they did off the Met and then Surrey until they ran out of credit: or do I mean credibility?
The Kent approach to an ASU has been serious to the level of entrusting the whole issue to a Sergeant for the past n years. Of course, I'm sure he's very competent.
However, don't blame the Constabulary: despite the present Chief Constable having come from the Met, where surely he must have learned and appreciated the value of Air Support, the Kent Police Authority has singularly failed to resource an ASU over a number of years.
When Kent Police have a permanent aircraft on site, and have their own Observers who know their local 'ground', and not just a portacabin saying 'Kent Police ASU', then I just may, just, become a believer.