North East UK Police Helicopter might be closed

[Max Shutterspeed]

Just seen this in an idle moment on the local rag's website:

Gazette Live

Any truth in it?

Regards

MS

[jayteeto]

Just out of interest, what is the flying time from Newcastle Airport to the south edge of operations? Even better, what is the flight time from the northern tip of ops to the southern tip?

[Max Shutterspeed]

I don't know what the southern limit of ops is or the speed of an EC135, but it's around 30 miles from Newcastle airport to Teesside.

Max

[jayteeto]

Every area is different, but I do know that we often struggle to get to high speed pursuits in the south end of Liverpool and our flying time is only 6-7 minutes. 15+ minutes does seem to play into the hands of the criminals. I know some rural forces have huge areas to cover, but Teeside does have form for pursuits and firearms incidents. Still, someone can get promoted for reducing the overall budget, therein making the force more efficient in fighting crime. Because of this fiscal efficiency, the force will perform better in 2008 than in 2007. Graphs will be produced to show that this is an excellent idea and the residents of Teeside will be able to sleep even more safely at night. The money saved can then be released to fund the long awaited diversity training for all personnel in order for them to better understand the needs of asylum seekers in Teeside. They can also bring a new stop form recording form, to monitor the number of stop forms issued by individual officers each day. This will allow graphs to be produced, to show the importance of stop form recording forms in the overall efficiency drive of the local police force.

Seems like simple good economics to me!!

[Max Shutterspeed]

Still, someone can get promoted for reducing the overall budget, therein making the force more efficient in fighting crime. Because of this fiscal efficiency, the force will perform better in 2008 than in 2007. Graphs will be produced to show that this is an excellent idea and the residents of Teeside will be able to sleep even more safely at night. The money saved can then be released to fund the long awaited diversity training for all personnel in order for them to better understand the needs of asylum seekers in Teeside. They can also bring a new stop form recording form, to monitor the number of stop forms issued by individual officers each day. This will allow graphs to be produced, to show the importance of stop form recording forms in the overall efficiency drive of the local police force.

Seems like simple good economics to me!!

Damn, and I thought I was good at cynicism and sarcasm....

So if this happens, we'll be back to a level of cover lower than when the good old Islander used to drone around giving everyone a headache...

MS

[A.Agincourt]

From the Gazette:

In October last year the Gazette revealed that Northumbria Police were replacing some police officers with community support officers in force helicopters - a move branded another cost-cutting exercise.

A pretty desperate measure?

It would be silly to reduce the fleet, it might make more sense to move it from DumDum Thick Valley. don't' know where though.

Best Wishes

[jayteeto]

No fact in my following statement, only heard a 'rumour'. The force currently uses EC135T1 'classics' that need to be replaced very soon due to new regulations. One helicopter is expensive to replace, 2 helicopters = firkin very expensive!! Any truth in this?

Rumour 2: The use of recruiting PCSOs as observers isn't quite the full story. The plan was civvie observers, who would then be made PCSOs (subtle difference) which means they can be used for other duties if the aircraft is off line. True or false again?

[Fortyodd2]

G-NESV at Newcastle is a T1 ~ G-NEAU at Teeside is a T2.

T1's will need to be replaced by 31 Mar 2010 as they will no longer be compliant.

[A.Agincourt]

jayteeto:

Rumour 2: The use of recruiting PCSOs as observers isn't quite the full story. The plan was civvie observers, who would then be made PCSOs (subtle difference) which means they can be used for other duties if the aircraft is off line. True or false again?

TRUTH


Best Wishes

[HeliRoute]

It doesn't stop there! ASU is only one department that our government thinks wise in civilianising. All part of the labour govmts plan in reducing police officers in my view.
Nothing like a police officer with a police officer's training, skills and nose to seek out and hunt the bad guys.
ASUs and their skilled staff prove their weight in gold in tackling crime.
Here's another great idea the govmt might want to consider... Close local fire and ambulance stations and centralise staff. Close city hospitals and have a few regional hospitals?

[A.Agincourt]

Question: what do you call a group or body of people who furtively work towards the destruction of a society without the agreement of that society and who do so by rank deceit and disinformation coupled with incompetence?


Best Wishes

[TiPwEiGhT]

Out of interest why are the T1's having to be replaced?

[Fortyodd2]

"Question: what do you call a group or body of people who furtively work towards the destruction of a society without the agreement of that society and who do so by rank deceit and disinformation coupled with incompetence?"

Answer: The Government.

TiPwEiGhT: As of 31st March 2010, the T1 or "Classic" EC135 will no longer meet the requirement for public transport flights at night as it only has a very basic stability system and not the bells and whistles 3-axis system that's fitted in the T2/P2 models. The cost of retro fitting is not cost effective in any way shape or form so the options for those units still operating T1s are disband, replace or become a day only operation. Currently, 1 unit has already replaced theirs & 5 more are in the process of making their minds up ~ expect an answer soon.

[Fly_For_Fun]

Question: what do you call a group or body of people who furtively work towards the destruction of a society without the agreement of that society and who do so by rank deceit and disinformation coupled with incompetence?

A "THICKET"

Out of interest why are the T1's having to be replaced?

The T1 CDS machines do not comply with the night stab regulations coming in 2010

[Max Shutterspeed]

Obviously there's a good reason, but why do they need to operate in Public Transport Category if there are only crew on board?

MS

[Fortyodd2]

"Obviously there's a good reason, but why do they need to operate in Public Transport Category if there are only crew on board?"

Oh dear, this could turn ugly.....

because, apart from the pilot, everyone else in a Police Aircraft is a passenger. Doesn't mean I agree with it ~ it's just the way it is. Been covered may times before in this forum.

[jayteeto]

Oh Max!! Thats the Moulinex Mixer out of the cupboard to stir it up.
There is only one 'crewmember' on board our helicopter. The LoCos think they have it bad with unruly passengers........ mine keep telling me where to fly to and sometimes shout at me and force me to make the tea.....

[A.Agincourt]

Fly_For_Fun Quote:
Question: what do you call a group or body of people who furtively work towards the destruction of a society without the agreement of that society and who do so by rank deceit and disinformation coupled with incompetence?
A "THICKET"

I think you might have gotten that mixed up. I always understood a group of engineers in the corner of the hangar was termed a Thicket. Or maybe I misunderstood.

Best Wishes

[nodrama]

A group of engineers in the corner of the hangar is called:

a) A union meeting.

b) A dangerous place for a pilot to be.

c) An 'Idle'.

[Thud_and_Blunder]

Jayteeto,

An excellent summary - nailed it on the head. Now that I no longer operate on either the Wilts or Dorset aircraft, I look-on as an interested outsider to see if financial considerations outweigh operational aspects in the future of police aviation support in those 2 areas. I know where I'd place my bets - if I was a gambler, which of course I ain't.