Having some experience of police aviation and of the AW139, I would say that the 139 is a nice aircraft, but massive overkill for 99.5% of UK police aviation missions.
Most of the time, the aircraft is an observation, and command, control and communications platform. Unless things have markedly changed in the last year, the vast majority of UK police forces as a general rule do not do "SWAT". You simply dont need an aircraft that can carry 14/17 people.
Drawbacks -1. size (it wont fit in hangars or on helipads designed for a squirrel or an EC135, and wont be able to get into quite such tight spots for HEMS etc that you could get a 135 in)
2. Cost to buy 3. Cost to run 4. Training Cost.
There is just no way any police unit that cannot afford overtime when an observer or pilot is off sick, and quibbles about travel expenses to attend national training forums is ever going to contemplate taking on the expense of this machine.
It would be great if I am wrong - might get some freelancing in!!
