Basically I don't have a great deal of knowledge about the police and general aviation worlds, but I do know more than the average plod. I agree withone of the replies that the pax on this occasion would in reality be about as much use as t*ts on a kipper, as we say out here!
Let me throw in another couple of parameters:
Some of the search is carried out over water
The a/c (fixed or rotary) is operated under a permit to fly
I think what I am going to suggest is that we examine closely our insurance situation, and issue a policy . I would never wish to deny anyone a jolly in an aircraft, however it was dressed up, but the bottom line, as we have seen before, is when it blunts in, the problems really start.
Please keep posting