Fortyodd,
I say this, not as a police air observer, but as a pilot who has worked alongside many of them for the past 15 years. When you can honestly add their levels of skill, ability and knowledge to your CV along with your "camera time" you might get a look in.
Plenty of ex Nimrod crew with camera experience and many of them found themselves out of a job overnight, not forgetting Harrier mates. Lets face it the Military have been hit harder!
I agree that it's very sad that an experienced bobby has to take a 5K pay cut but at least he can re-muster to do the job he joined to do...Be a Police Officer.
Government run agencies are easy pickings so we all have to live with that or move on. Remember "No one is irreplaceable"!