The current recruiting drive for NPAS's TFO 'succession plan' has only been made available internally to substantive Police Officers.
.... does that include substantive Police Officers in Forces that do not currently permit external Secondments ?
Imagine one of the larger Police forces not allowing external secondments,
quite undertandably because of the ongoing budget cutbacks,
who may or may not have already joined NPAS .......
Once the Police Officer TFO's from that force that have been / are being seconded to W.Yorkshire LEAVE,
( whether through retirement, or electing to do so when / if the loss of Specialist Pay" kicks in, or for any other reason ),
then unless the "Home" force policy changes, the aircraft providing the "Local" service
will end up being crewed by TFO's with NO local knowledge of the area.
A bit like the arguement over Police or Civvie TFO's - having any TFO working an area they are unfamiliar with,
they will get the job done, but probably not as effectively or efficiently as the previous TFO that had that knowledge.
NPAS is still all about providing "a National Service delivered locally, that is more effective / efficient" and saves money, isn't it ?
