Hughes500 long time no see?
To be fair and in defence of the "Police Authorities" (who don't exist now that the Police Commissioners have arrived), it isn't them who hire and fire. In the example you gave (D and C Air Support many many years ago, I suspect), the PA would have approved the advice of the then UEO. He subsequently went on to become quite influential elsewhere.
In those days the police were still learning about how to run helo ops including the overheads etc.
Nowadays there is no way on earth that PA's would be seen to waste money because of all the scrutiny associated with their funding. Also - don't forget: they talk to each other, and this is the big difference - all their dirty washing is aired in public whereas with the air ambulances, they dont and it isn't
