All very much as expected.
I was surprised to learn that the report was written by Matt Parr - a submariner not an aviator - recently joined HMICFRS which sort of explains some of the tangents he goes off on [like promoting drones as if they will be the answer to everything].
This morning an item from Police Professional appeared on the net...
” Thames Valley PCC Anthony Stansfeld insists the National Strategic Board (NSB) – responsible for setting the strategic direction of NPAS – considered “every possible way of tasking” and the current model, which charges forces every time they request a helicopter, is the most “logical and fair”.
“Whatever formula you go to, some police forces are going to say it’s unfair or it’s not as good as it was. You’re not going to please everybody all the time.”
Mr Stansfeld, who ran British helicopters on the Falkland Islands and was previously managing director of the company that supplied airplanes to the police service, questioned the inspectorate’s knowledge of aircraft”
Clearly a snipe at the authors background by a person of some standing.
Having met Mr Stansfield at a UK police aviation conference event I would say he has the future of police aviation very much at heart but his own positive stance does not actually resolve any of the core problems. Unfortunately he was the only member of the Strategic board to turn up. That says a great deal about the others.
Last edited by PANews; 2nd Dec 2017 at 10:49.
Reason: Added text