UK NPAS discussion thread: Mk 4
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
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From: Somerset
What happens to the PC's......they watch DVD's!
South Yorkshire Police officer suspended over claims he used force helicopter to film activity at dogging spots - The Star
South Yorkshire Police officer suspended over claims he used force helicopter to film activity at dogging spots - The Star
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,055
Likes: 31
From: Liverpool based Geordie, so calm down, calm down kidda!!
Obviously the taking home bit isn't good, but there could be more to this. When we used to go for a "mooch around" hi visibility patrol, dogging sites had rich pickings for drunk and drugged drivers. We had one car investigated with an 80yr old man getting a chewie whilst drinking a bottle of finest red. He had driven there and blew 100+ at the station. Fish in a barrel.
The locals also constantly complain about the police not patrolling dogging sites
The locals also constantly complain about the police not patrolling dogging sites
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,931
Likes: 142
From: Warrington, UK
It's all going horribly wrong:
BBC News - Third of police helicopter bases in England and Wales could close
One-third of police helicopter bases in England and Wales could be closed because of government funding cuts, the BBC has learned.
The National Police Air Service (NPAS) is considering plans to reduce the number of its bases from 20 to 15.
The National Police Air Service (NPAS) is considering plans to reduce the number of its bases from 20 to 15.
6 planks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 406
Likes: 2
From: Bristol
Well its certainly as I predicted and continued to foretell since 2011, my beliefs cost me my job, but I always did hope that UK Police Air Support would survive. Now I fear not.
How long before the lads re discover the freedom of Ram raiding and vehicle chases?
The efficiency that we once had, has all but dissipated. Policing no longer considered valuable by an out of touch administration.
Shame really.
TF
How long before the lads re discover the freedom of Ram raiding and vehicle chases?
The efficiency that we once had, has all but dissipated. Policing no longer considered valuable by an out of touch administration.
Shame really.
TF
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,187
Likes: 16
From: Waltham Abbey, Essex, UK
Like some of you I do not know quite what this terse BBC item is on about.
There is nothing obvious there to suggest whether this is a fly on the wall insider information, a report or a release from NPAS. Whether it is happening as we speak, a plan or a project.
However, what this report does not mention is cutting airframes. Whether the proposal is to retain all or most of the air assets [by number] but to place all of them in less bases.
If times are hard there are savings to be made on base rents and stores logistics etc. let alone the need to duplicate any planned operation wide technology upgrades. That fits in with the mooted additional aircraft at Lippitts Hill and with some of the original, as yet unseen, proposals to co-locate in the Midlands.
Get rid of Boreham [where the gravel extraction gets closer daily], Pembrey [too close to St Athan and never in the plan anyway], Sheffield [never in the plan] and Birmingham [in the plan] all make some sense but the BBC angle does not really put that across.
The quote from CS Whitehouse suggests this is an official announcement only to the BBC but its strange that just the one source has it unless there are expectations that some pop star might be due for a search!
There is nothing obvious there to suggest whether this is a fly on the wall insider information, a report or a release from NPAS. Whether it is happening as we speak, a plan or a project.
However, what this report does not mention is cutting airframes. Whether the proposal is to retain all or most of the air assets [by number] but to place all of them in less bases.
If times are hard there are savings to be made on base rents and stores logistics etc. let alone the need to duplicate any planned operation wide technology upgrades. That fits in with the mooted additional aircraft at Lippitts Hill and with some of the original, as yet unseen, proposals to co-locate in the Midlands.
Get rid of Boreham [where the gravel extraction gets closer daily], Pembrey [too close to St Athan and never in the plan anyway], Sheffield [never in the plan] and Birmingham [in the plan] all make some sense but the BBC angle does not really put that across.
The quote from CS Whitehouse suggests this is an official announcement only to the BBC but its strange that just the one source has it unless there are expectations that some pop star might be due for a search!
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
From: Devon
How long was spent on the task in hand 
Police helicopter officer 'filmed couples having sex' | Metro News
I bet the downlink wasn't being used at the time
The Sun
PC suspended after allegations he filmed people as they had sex - from a HELICOPTER - Mirror Online
Police helicopter officer 'filmed couples having sex' | Metro News
I bet the downlink wasn't being used at the time
The Sun
PC suspended after allegations he filmed people as they had sex - from a HELICOPTER - Mirror Online
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,931
Likes: 142
From: Warrington, UK
There is nothing obvious there to suggest whether this is a fly on the wall insider information, a report or a release from NPAS. Whether it is happening as we speak, a plan or a project.
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: Sitting on the toilet of Europe.... the UK
Well looks like we'll have to move to Africa then!
Former Suffolk police helicopter helps quell trouble at African Cup of Nations semi-final between Equatorial Guinea and Ghana - News - East Anglian Daily Times
Former Suffolk police helicopter helps quell trouble at African Cup of Nations semi-final between Equatorial Guinea and Ghana - News - East Anglian Daily Times
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
From: Devon
Was that a touch and go in the picture! Imagine losing a donkey at that height 
Is it true that NPAS staff are now using spare police helicopters instead of travelling by car between bases, to carry out the 6 monthly check rides on pilots?
Car v helicopter travel costs, £50 v £2000 per hour... must be a better way to save money if they are looking at saving money.
How many pilots do NPAS now have on the books?
Is it true that NPAS staff are now using spare police helicopters instead of travelling by car between bases, to carry out the 6 monthly check rides on pilots?
Car v helicopter travel costs, £50 v £2000 per hour... must be a better way to save money if they are looking at saving money.
How many pilots do NPAS now have on the books?
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,931
Likes: 142
From: Warrington, UK
I see that Sid's not been around for a couple of weeks. Silenced by the gag order?
About a month ago, I emailed the PCCs of the Forces that seem to have come off worse with NPAS(ie, paying more, considerably in one or two cases, for sometimes less hours), and asked them if they thought they were getting value for money and were they satisfied with the NPAS setup. Received one reply so far. Here is part of the reply:
About a month ago, I emailed the PCCs of the Forces that seem to have come off worse with NPAS(ie, paying more, considerably in one or two cases, for sometimes less hours), and asked them if they thought they were getting value for money and were they satisfied with the NPAS setup. Received one reply so far. Here is part of the reply:
I share your concerns. However the police could not go on with each force running its own air wing with different airframes, different equipment suites in similar aircraft, different ownerships of aircraft and completely different contractual arrangements. It was hugely wasteful.
In reply to your two questions the answer is probably no and no. I agree with some of the points you make, not others. There should be sustainability, so that if a crewman is sick or on leave there is an immediate replacement. The same with pilots.
Savings are being made, but in the current financial climate probably not enough. Helicopters should only be used when absolutely necessary. Very few tasks require a helicopter, a fixed wing would do the job perfectly well at a far lower cost and less obtrusively. This is being addressed, albeit slowly.
Most of the points you raise are about management, and I will take up those issues. ........I do have the background not to have the wool pulled over my eyes on the running of NPAS.
I have some major issues with the way NPAS was rapidly put together without enough thought, and we are now in the teething trouble stage that should have been avoidable. It will take time to sort out. You cannot run what is a fairly complex aviation company and expect senior police officers to know how to run it. It will be sorted out, but not as quickly as it should be
In reply to your two questions the answer is probably no and no. I agree with some of the points you make, not others. There should be sustainability, so that if a crewman is sick or on leave there is an immediate replacement. The same with pilots.
Savings are being made, but in the current financial climate probably not enough. Helicopters should only be used when absolutely necessary. Very few tasks require a helicopter, a fixed wing would do the job perfectly well at a far lower cost and less obtrusively. This is being addressed, albeit slowly.
Most of the points you raise are about management, and I will take up those issues. ........I do have the background not to have the wool pulled over my eyes on the running of NPAS.
I have some major issues with the way NPAS was rapidly put together without enough thought, and we are now in the teething trouble stage that should have been avoidable. It will take time to sort out. You cannot run what is a fairly complex aviation company and expect senior police officers to know how to run it. It will be sorted out, but not as quickly as it should be
Thread Starter
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
Joined: Nov 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 4,753
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From: Alles über die platz
Gag order! What gag order? ......
... Oh! This one;
However;
'John Apter, chairman of Hampshire Police Federation, calls the planned cuts an 'Absolute Disgrace', in this vocal radio interview with BBC Radio Solent's Louisa Hannan'
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v...276300&fref=nf
However;
'John Apter, chairman of Hampshire Police Federation, calls the planned cuts an 'Absolute Disgrace', in this vocal radio interview with BBC Radio Solent's Louisa Hannan'
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v...276300&fref=nf