Mmm, I guess like most I read your post...
We need to judge the success of a unit, and in the future, NPAS, not just on how many searches are "attended".
Not how many incidents are "attended"...
But on actual results.
ie. direct ARRESTS
Vehicles LOCATED
Missing persons FOUND
not on how many boxes get ticked.
...to read;
'The only jobs that count are the ones with solid results', because the box tickers, don't really count.'
I don't know about how others feel when doing one of your 'simple box ticking jobs', maybe a missing child or burglars in the country or runners from a job 20 mins old, but I tend to think and occasionally say out loud... 'The bobbies think they are down there somewhere, so lets find them!'
Sometimes the odd box ticker brings results!!!
On a different train of thought, the ability to tick the 'air support called' box, is better than that box not being there to tick!!