UK Police helicopter budget cuts

[SilsoeSid]

Coconutty, I think you've missed the obvious about Phil;

I love helicopters especially B206's with me in the rh seat.
However I pay for my chopper flying along with having to pay for a police helicopter that is often used to justify its costs.

I pay for my driving along with having to pay for the Police cars/Ambulances/Fire Engines that I see out and about....yep, sounds a silly ridiculous point of view doesn't it


Phil is clearly another envious soul that cannot get over that some pilots fly for a living, in the public sector and for a purpose that benefits society. I wonder if he will reflect on that while waiting for an air ambulance to help him during his time of need, at night in the middle of nowhere

Stolen cars are but a small part of the job and he also seems to have missed the bigger picture as to why these cars are stolen in the first place

[Whirlygig]

Insurance pays out and there is less risk to the public with no chase.

Well that's alright then .... everyone can pay higher insurance premiums instead.

Cheers

Whirls

[Phil Space]

Surely this cannot be the SilsoeSid that was having a go at the 'Round the World' gyro attempt a few years back because there was some free flying involved via sponsorship? Seven years have gone by since Global Eagle.

So has he tempered his style? Read on...

Phil is clearly another envious soul that cannot get over that some pilots fly for a living, in the public sector and for a purpose that benefits society.

I cannot see how a police helicopter in East Anglia benefits me anymore than a speed camera or the bin stasi

I wonder if he will reflect on that while waiting for an air ambulance to help him during his time of need, at night in the middle of nowhere

I am more than happy to have more of these. But let me underline that most are charities that cost the person in the street nothing.We are talking police helicopter budget cuts here not air ambulance. It is nigh impossible to enjoy a quite drink by the Thames in central London without having a police helicopter hovering above.

Stolen cars are but a small part of the job and he also seems to have missed the bigger picture as to why these cars are stolen in the first place

What bigger picture? I guess for the spotty youths who steal them and the police air support unit to get on Police Camera Action

Sophisticated thieves who target high end cars have never appeared on those shows.

If the police helicopters did more why do we never ever see footage other than juveniles stealing motorbikes and cars and leading the police through a merry chase that ends on a council estate?

The culprits then goes through the magistrates courts to be released to do it again

If I can choose I want an end to speed cameras and high cost patrol cars,helicopters,bulletproof vests and all the other toys and a return to proper policing with bobby's on the beat.

If SilsoeSid cannot get a Bond job then perhaps he should think about calling it a day.

[Whirlygig]

If the police helicopters did more why do we never ever see footage other than juveniles stealing motorbikes and cars and leading the police through a merry chase that ends on a council estate?

Because this is what a TV producer deems to be good telly.

Cheers

Whirls

[Phil Space]

Whirlygig

Quote:
If the police helicopters did more why do we never ever see footage other than juveniles stealing motorbikes and cars and leading the police through a merry chase that ends on a council estate?
Because this is what a TV producer deems to be good telly.

Cheers

Whirls

I've spent a long time in tv and can tell that is not the case.

The reason you see a lot of the same footage on all those programmes is because that is all that exists.Once you have seen the car going off the road and crossing the cornfields or a vehicle going over a stinger but still driving on the rims you have seen it all. 99% of police video is utter garbage.

I am not having a go at helicopter pilots but at the waste of public money by plod.
Just take a look at some of those Essex police 'reality' tv shows where they focus on the cars and drivers.

[J.A.F.O.]

Phil

Please don't base your arguments on what you've seen on Chopper Coppers, it's not real, it's the telly.

Vehicle pursuits account for one or two percent of the work of your local police helicopters, I believe that they are an important 1 or 2%, but that's all it is.

It is nigh impossible to enjoy a quite drink by the Thames in central London without having a police helicopter hovering above.

Ah, diddums, sorry if keeping people safe in any way interrupted your enjoyment.

I cannot see how a police helicopter in East Anglia benefits me anymore than a speed camera

Ask the speed camera to find granny when she gets lost and confused in an East Anglian field some day.

Phil, I know you're fishing and I've nibbled ever so slightly but I can't help challenging drivel wherever it's found.

[SilsoeSid]

Yee ha !!

Phil;

Read the whole Glogal Eagle thread

I cannot see how a police helicopter in East Anglia benefits me anymore than a speed camera or the bin stasi

I guess then that you were fortunate not to be involved with the 1,318 tasks undertaken by the ac in 2009/10 then. I would hazard a guess that there were at least 3,000 or so people in your area glad of it.

But let me underline that most are charities that cost the person in the street nothing.We are talking police helicopter budget cuts here not air ambulance.

Read my post...I say again "while waiting for an air ambulance to help him during his time of need, at night in the middle of nowhere."
Read East Anglia Air Ambulance thread

What bigger picture?

Thank you for proving your ignorance

Sophisticated thieves who target high end cars have never appeared on those shows.

Because if it's not on TV it doesn't happen does it

If the police helicopters did more why do we never ever see footage other than juveniles stealing motorbikes and cars and leading the police through a merry chase that ends on a council estate?

Because there is a real world out there not on TV

I want an end to speed cameras and high cost patrol cars,helicopters,bulletproof vests and all the other toys and a return to proper policing with bobby's on the beat.

And the bad boys want an easier way to do their business with no fear of being apprehended.

The culprits then goes through the magistrates courts to be released to do it again

And your solution is not to bother arresting anyone in the first place.
Phil for Home Secretary
FFS

[Phil Space]

Ask the speed camera to find granny when she gets lost and confused in an East Anglian field some day.

Well if that is the USP for an expensive bit of kit then there is scope for tagging people over 65.Another alternative is to use the Air Ambulance.

Much as I love flying I resent paying for toys.

Spool back 20 years ago and there were no police air support units. If someone went missing in the mountains of North Wales the RAF were called out.

Large tracts of the UK are rural with little or no crime.

[Phil Space]

SilsoeSid

I read the Global Eagle thread several years ago but what were you doing apart from having a go? At least they tried.

More money should go to the RAF who have done a great job on search and rescue for decades.

Police budgets need to be spent on plod on bikes in the local community.

[Whirlygig]

If someone went missing in the mountains of North Wales the RAF were called out.

And who pays for that? Ah yes, the taxpayer; the same taxpayer who pays for the police helicopter.

plod on bikes in the local community.

Yeah, great. I have some miscreant trying to jemmy my Alfa and I have to wait for Officer Dibble to cycle the 7 miles out of Dereham? Or even the 3 miles from the next hamlet? Very forward-thinking.

Cheers

Whirls

[Phil Space]

Whirlygig

If someone went missing in the mountains of North Wales the RAF were called out.
And who pays for that? Ah yes, the taxpayer; the same taxpayer who pays for the police helicopter.

No. The RAF is paid out of the defence budget. The police helicopter is paid out of the community charge.

plod on bikes in the local community.
Yeah, great. I have some miscreant trying to jemmy my Alfa and I have to wait for Officer Dibble to cycle the 7 miles out of Dereham? Or even the 3 miles from the next hamlet? Very forward-thinking.

If some 'miscreant trying to jemmy my Alfa' is your problem then a call to Norfolk police HQ will not get the helicopter overhead in minutes. You'll be lucky to see a plod at all. They will want you to call in to a local police station during opening hours and report the crime.You then get a crime number and a letter from victim support.

If the chopper was dispatched to car crime the numbers would not add up. You can get several old Alpha's for the cost of an hour with the air support unit.

Now perhaps you can point me to all the crime hotspots of Norfolk where only a helicopter will do to relate info to plod on the ground.I'm sure big chunks around Wells and Sheringham could do with police airboats like they have in the Everglades to counter drug and people smugglers

[Whirlygig]

No. The RAF is paid out of the defence budget. The police helicopter is paid out of the community charge.

Seeing as you like to be pedantic and split hairs, the Community Charge was abolished some years ago and it's now called Council Tax.

However, the fact remains, it's still a tax and the people who pay it are called "taxpayers".

Bored now.

Cheers

Whirls

[SilsoeSid]

Sorry for the delay in coming back, but we've just returned from searching for a missing child in a rural area.

In the space of 30-40 minutes we searched the back/front gardens, ponds, lakes streams, churchyards, car parks, driveways, paths, bridleweays, woods, sports pitches and playgrounds of 2 villages, the countryside, lakes ponds, woods highways, byeways and fields and hedges in the countryside within a 3 mile radius.

I wonder how long it would take ground based officers to do the same?

Result...Child found...but then again as it didn't impact on Phils life at all, it counts for nothing.

I think I've made my point.
'Scuse me, just off to look for a bike and its rider that has just done something particularly nasty.

Phil, have another chill pill and stay safe

[Fly_For_Fun]

JAFO, careful with the high blood pressure mate.

Phil, not sure why the bitter and twisted attitude, but you really should stop talking about something you know nothing about, but please ask any questions you may feel would enhance your knowledge of something you know nothing about, and as we have the good old freedom of speech please feel free to comment at will about something you nothing about.

[J.A.F.O.]

Well if that is the USP for an expensive bit of kit then there is scope for tagging people over 65.Another alternative is to use the Air Ambulance.

Oh, now I know you're taking the pi$$.

[hc89]

Will they take the extra weights out of the tail if all of the police kit comes off? as I remember that some of the heavier observers (100kg+ chaps) couldnt sit in the front sometimes, due to the CofG being off the chart!

I would presume so, the guys in there are constantly adding and taking weights of G-ORKY when they add the camera equiptment for things like F1, and there is A LOT of stuff in G-NWPS

I wonder if the aircraft wbrodie saw was the ex-DCP 117?

If you like i can get some pics - I'm there 4-5 days a week doing my PPL at London Heli - one of the advantages of learning to fly with the first registered JAR-145 in europe - spent a good half an hour nosing around a little bird and a huey today

[Brilliant Stuff]

Phil must be particularly had up if he can not afford the 50pence it costs him to run his local Police helicopter.

I shall leave it at that otherwise........

[B.U.D.G.I.E]

fantastic

We have not had some one make a public arse of themselves for a while.

I've spent a long time in tv and can tell that is not the case.

Got jerno written all over the silly comments he has made....

[Thud_and_Blunder]

'ere, Coconutty, I thought you were the techno wiz up there in the far north (remember, Scotland begins at Okehampton...)

...just right click on the .gif and one of the options brings up this info:

"http://www.honda-forums.com/images/smiley_icons/wanking.gif"

[Mr_G_Box]

Wrong again

Spool back 20 years ago and there were no police air support units. If someone went missing in the mountains of North Wales the RAF were called out

I wonder what it was that I was doing back then.............Oh yes, I remember, flying a Police helicopter and sometimes venturing into North Wales from my quiet North Western city to search for missing people!!