Legally I suspect this practice is fine. Much to the consternation of the CAA
However from a practical point of view it is a non starter:
What height is the search going to be done at? We do this every day and need to be 'low' level WITH 40 zoom cameras
And still we aren't able to find the misper!!
The PC would also need individual contacts 'checked out' and this requires talking to ground troops to identify individuals. He hasn't got a licence to transmit from the air to the ground on UHF above 500'
He won't have dedicated VHF police channels in the a/c either.
So he's stuck really -about as useful as a chocolate ash tray!!
Commercially -he's on a sticky wicket because 'favours' run out and the private operator of the helo is going to want paying eventually. Then we are definitely on a sticky wicket when money changes hands!
Good idea at the time - the C Constable showed initiative, good use of facilities, forethought, etc. Complete waste of time in the long run though.
Can you imagine if this "Skywatch" got off the ground (so to speak). Dozens of puddle jumpers squirming around the countryside not having the faintest idea about search patterns/comms etc. Either wasting ATC time with irrelevant relaying of messages to the local constabulary, or transmitting blind on UHF across neighbouring force areas
What a complete load of B***ks.