Crab
I also find it depressing about the future of the SAR force, being an ex 22 sqn bloke. It's criminal to wind up such an asset. I know I jest about transfers etc but it's true that the hospital transfer capabilities will be reduced when the contract begins. But that's an aside from this thread.
homonculus
but I doubt night or IFR operations will ever be viable
Sussex and Wiltshire have been operating at night for many years now. It has been possible only due to the police equipment which is fitted, admittedly only in rural areas but very successfuly.
zorab64
Dual roling is effectively (I'd suggest) an interim or compromise solution in areas where they can't afford/justify both separately.
It is not a compromise and it works well in Sussex. It is a first-rate service both for the police and the ambulance services. As I said, there are obviously places where it would not work, your unit being one of them. But where it is in place, it works very well.
