Fortyodd2, SilsoeSid,
Neither of you seem to understand the leasing idea.
Strathclyde Police are leasing the capability not the airframe.
Therefore if the airframe is not available due to routine maintenance, unscheduled maintenance or damage, either criminal or otherwise then another fully specced EC135T2+ airframe is provided.
Clever eh. The taxpayer is paying for the lease and always has a police helicopter on line. I'm happy with that as a tax payer.
Also I would contend that any ASU that is keeping its helicopter in a hangar between jobs is not providing the service I as a tax payer expect