Finding missing persons isn't the only way of saving lives in this job. I guess we will never know how many lives units such as the Met have saved, and will continue to save while carrying out their 'duties'.
True, but it's subjective, and there is no place for that in this modern, evidenced based world that the accountants and business development officers work in.
Only yesterday, terrorists MIGHT have planned to wipe out Scarborough with a dirty bomb until they saw the Teesside machine fly over. Just like the MET might have saved some. Truth is, we just don't know. Only got easytask to go on.
P.S. pleased you didn't deny that the rural machines do save a lot of lives.