Reducing helicopter numbers is only part of the drive to save money.
Tasking is the other area in desperate need of a "pair of balls" , Forces will happily send their aircraft out on the most mundane and ridiculous tasks, often against the advice of the crews, giving them the most pointless and futile searches .
Police forces have descended into trying to acheive the impossible with every task which may end in a civil claim against them.
Corporate arse covering adds thousands of pounds to air operations budgets, if some plank has rang the Police for the 18th time in a month threatening suicide, then why exactly does the helicopter have to go look for him ?
Because nobody will say "No we are not coming, he has done this 18 times this month" , just in case.
If anyone sees any balls for sale, sturdy, stainless steel, corrosion resistant, with a hefty weight about them, drop me a line.
I need 43 pairs for the people needing them most, The Armchair Police !