Topic ID 4249
The police helicopter is hovering over the Ware Road near Tesco at the moment. Anyone know anything?
Reply ID 61534
http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/hertfordshiremercury%2Dnews/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=399367
Reply ID 61540
Thanks HB&B [:)]
Reply ID 61541
quote:Was the missing person found? or was it another waste of taxpayers money!
Originally posted by Steve
Thanks HB&B [:)]
Reply ID 61545
quote:I sincerly hope that nobody close to you goes missing. I am more than happy for my tax money to go towards things like this. Perhaps you should think about what you are typing.
Originally posted by Firedupinsidequote:Was the missing person found? or was it another waste of taxpayers money!
Originally posted by Steve
Thanks HB&B [:)]
Reply ID 61546
quote:I'm sorry but what a stupid thing to say. You don't know if it was a child that went missing, or an elderly or vunerable person. The police helicopter is an invaluable tool and I for one am happy that my taxes go towards funding it.
Originally posted by Firedupinsidequote:Was the missing person found? or was it another waste of taxpayers money!
Originally posted by Steve
Thanks HB&B [:)]
Reply ID 61557
Well said victor & Steve. The helicopter must be one of the most useful and cost effective tools in a case such as this
Reply ID 61587
I agree with you Eyeone as in this case very useful and very needed but I think there was a case some time back when it was used to follow some shoplifters along the river who had nicked a couple of pounds worth of goods from one of the town stores and this was not an appropriate use of this machine knowing that it costs several hundred pounds an hour, I think the police would disagree with me but they could have done just the same job on foot or car but I expect they will say that they have not the man power or the police station is shut.
Reply ID 61588
quote:If they knicked hundreds of quid worth of stuff, then I'd say that was a pretty good investment too... you have to think long term. If they got caught, then they can't knick any more stuff.
Originally posted by night owl
I agree with you Eyeone as in this case very useful and very needed but I think there was a case some time back when it was used to follow some shoplifters along the river who had nicked a couple of pounds worth of goods from one of the town stores and this was not an appropriate use of this machine knowing that it costs several hundred pounds an hour, I think the police would disagree with me but they could have done just the same job on foot or car but I expect they will say that they have not the man power or the police station is shut.
Reply ID 61677
As far as the shoplifting case goes I doubt if the helicopter had lifted from it’s base and been specifically tasked to monitor these suspects. More likely that it was routing through the area,monitored the radio and offered it’s very capable assistance. I don’t know how long this particular task took but probably not that long. True that this aircraft is not cheep to run but it’s crew are being paid whether they are airborne or not so it’s use was probably justified. There is also the deterent effect. I’m sure most people have seen the police video shows on TV. Very few suspects escape once an ASU is on scene.
Reply ID 61682
quote:This is just rubbish. Total speculation. If you don't know the facts, don't "suppose"
Originally posted by Eyeone
As far as the shoplifting case goes I doubt if the helicopter had lifted from it’s base and been specifically tasked to monitor these suspects. More likely that it was routing through the area,monitored the radio and offered it’s very capable assistance. I don’t know how long this particular task took but probably not that long. True that this aircraft is not cheep to run but it’s crew are being paid whether they are airborne or not so it’s use was probably justified. There is also the deterent effect. I’m sure most people have seen the police video shows on TV. Very few suspects escape once an ASU is on scene.
Reply ID 61685
Ewoowar would know. Where is Ewoowar by the way?
Reply ID 61689
quote:Why not speculate?? reasoned opinions prompt informed debate, there's a word for it..... ah yes "conversation"
Originally posted by buzzquote:This is just rubbish. Total speculation. If you don't know the facts, don't "suppose"
Originally posted by Eyeone
As far as the shoplifting case goes I doubt if the helicopter had lifted from it’s base and been specifically tasked to monitor these suspects. More likely that it was routing through the area,monitored the radio and offered it’s very capable assistance. I don’t know how long this particular task took but probably not that long. True that this aircraft is not cheep to run but it’s crew are being paid whether they are airborne or not so it’s use was probably justified. There is also the deterent effect. I’m sure most people have seen the police video shows on TV. Very few suspects escape once an ASU is on scene.
Reply ID 61691
Reasoned opinion? possibly. Speculation is totally different
Reply ID 61702
One mans reasoned opinion is another mans speculation.
Reply ID 61797
quote:Buzz, you obviously feel embittered towards towards the police. Do you feel they did you an injustice whilst serving with them?
Originally posted by buzzquote:This is just rubbish. Total speculation. If you don't know the facts, don't "suppose"
Originally posted by Eyeone
As far as the shoplifting case goes I doubt if the helicopter had lifted from it’s base and been specifically tasked to monitor these suspects. More likely that it was routing through the area,monitored the radio and offered it’s very capable assistance. I don’t know how long this particular task took but probably not that long. True that this aircraft is not cheep to run but it’s crew are being paid whether they are airborne or not so it’s use was probably justified. There is also the deterent effect. I’m sure most people have seen the police video shows on TV. Very few suspects escape once an ASU is on scene.
Reply ID 61803
quote:I'm sorry but don't see how this is embittered towards the police. It is just a comment on an ill-informed person, making speculative assumptions that, unless they have inside information, they are not qualified to comment on
Originally posted by Richiequote:Buzz, you obviously feel embittered towards towards the police. Do you feel they did you an injustice whilst serving with them?
Originally posted by buzzquote:This is just rubbish. Total speculation. If you don't know the facts, don't "suppose"
Originally posted by Eyeone
As far as the shoplifting case goes I doubt if the helicopter had lifted from it’s base and been specifically tasked to monitor these suspects. More likely that it was routing through the area,monitored the radio and offered it’s very capable assistance. I don’t know how long this particular task took but probably not that long. True that this aircraft is not cheep to run but it’s crew are being paid whether they are airborne or not so it’s use was probably justified. There is also the deterent effect. I’m sure most people have seen the police video shows on TV. Very few suspects escape once an ASU is on scene.
Reply ID 61811
It is possible to be more accurate by deduction, rather than by believing nothing except that which one is told. We can assume that the helicopter wasn't bought and left wrapped in cling-film, or that the police don't just randomly grab a couple of officers out of a Panda car when there is a call which is considered serious enough to fly. It could be assumed that there is a certain amount of training involved. Maybe someone has worked out that, if the hours of training can be combined with whatever low priority incident is current, they will not be an entirely unproductive expense. So, looking for a someone who nicked a strimmer from a shed or some other low priority becomes a use for a training exercise, rather than flying around just for the experience alone. It may be an assumption, but it makes more sense than the alternative assumption that we pay for a helicopter to catch shoplifters and recover garden tools and it does mean it's ready for more urgent uses, such as this one.
Reply ID 61818
Just what is wrong with speculation anyway? why do the facts have to get in the way? as someone on Fleet street said "why let the truth spoil a good story?"
Reply ID 61840
quote:Well, Shunt, it appears that you are talking more total b******s than usual The helicoper XA99 is a vast expense and I would'nt be at all surprised that in the current economic climate it is axed in the very near future. I'm pretty sure that it's success is fairly limited, and if you want to pay for statistics under the Freedom of Information Act, then I stand to be corrected. (And I have flown in it several times and loved it!)
Originally posted by shunt
It is possible to be more accurate by deduction, rather than by believing nothing except that which one is told. We can assume that the helicopter wasn't bought and left wrapped in cling-film, or that the police don't just randomly grab a couple of officers out of a Panda car when there is a call which is considered serious enough to fly. It could be assumed that there is a certain amount of training involved. Maybe someone has worked out that, if the hours of training can be combined with whatever low priority incident is current, they will not be an entirely unproductive expense. So, looking for a someone who nicked a strimmer from a shed or some other low priority becomes a use for a training exercise, rather than flying around just for the experience alone. It may be an assumption, but it makes more sense than the alternative assumption that we pay for a helicopter to catch shoplifters and recover garden tools and it does mean it's ready for more urgent uses, such as this one.
Reply ID 61841
hovering over sele farm at the moment
Reply ID 61851
quote:Ok, now I'm worried. If this aircraft does not provide valuable work to justify it's existence (albeit very occasionally), maybe it should go. Out of interest, what was the purpose of your own flights?
Originally posted by buzzquote:Well, Shunt, it appears that you are talking more total b******s than usual The helicoper XA99 is a vast expense and I would'nt be at all surprised that in the current economic climate it is axed in the very near future. I'm pretty sure that it's success is fairly limited, and if you want to pay for statistics under the Freedom of Information Act, then I stand to be corrected. (And I have flown in it several times and loved it!)
Originally posted by shunt
It is possible to be more accurate by deduction, rather than by believing nothing except that which one is told. We can assume that the helicopter wasn't bought and left wrapped in cling-film, or that the police don't just randomly grab a couple of officers out of a Panda car when there is a call which is considered serious enough to fly. It could be assumed that there is a certain amount of training involved. Maybe someone has worked out that, if the hours of training can be combined with whatever low priority incident is current, they will not be an entirely unproductive expense. So, looking for a someone who nicked a strimmer from a shed or some other low priority becomes a use for a training exercise, rather than flying around just for the experience alone. It may be an assumption, but it makes more sense than the alternative assumption that we pay for a helicopter to catch shoplifters and recover garden tools and it does mean it's ready for more urgent uses, such as this one.
Reply ID 61855
quote:I know that this sounds crap, but all I can say is even now I can't say! Let's just say that although on occasions it's useful, it is a VERY expensive toy
Originally posted by shuntquote:Ok, now I'm worried. If this aircraft does not provide valuable work to justify it's existence (albeit very occasionally), maybe it should go. Out of interest, what was the purpose of your own flights?
Originally posted by buzzquote:Well, Shunt, it appears that you are talking more total b******s than usual The helicoper XA99 is a vast expense and I would'nt be at all surprised that in the current economic climate it is axed in the very near future. I'm pretty sure that it's success is fairly limited, and if you want to pay for statistics under the Freedom of Information Act, then I stand to be corrected. (And I have flown in it several times and loved it!)
Originally posted by shunt
It is possible to be more accurate by deduction, rather than by believing nothing except that which one is told. We can assume that the helicopter wasn't bought and left wrapped in cling-film, or that the police don't just randomly grab a couple of officers out of a Panda car when there is a call which is considered serious enough to fly. It could be assumed that there is a certain amount of training involved. Maybe someone has worked out that, if the hours of training can be combined with whatever low priority incident is current, they will not be an entirely unproductive expense. So, looking for a someone who nicked a strimmer from a shed or some other low priority becomes a use for a training exercise, rather than flying around just for the experience alone. It may be an assumption, but it makes more sense than the alternative assumption that we pay for a helicopter to catch shoplifters and recover garden tools and it does mean it's ready for more urgent uses, such as this one.
Reply ID 61856
Cant see them stopping using it. I can see however them merging with the Bedfordshire Police Helicopter and cover both counties.
Reply ID 61859
quote:It already IS!! Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire & Thames Valley forces operate two helicopters to cover the three counties. They have the call signs of XA97 & XA99 They are known as the Chiltern Air Support Unit. They use civilian pilots on hire from Police Aviation Services and two police observers
Originally posted by spitfire
Cant see them stopping using it. I can see however them merging with the Bedfordshire Police Helicopter and cover both counties.
Reply ID 61863
If this aircraft finds a vulnerable person in danger, or leads to the capture of a dangerous felon before he presents himself in your living room and demands your car keys, I think most would agree it's earning it's keep. On the other hand, if those occasions are so rare that it's normally flying to entertain police officers, I would question if it's a valid expense. Though buying in pilots makes sense, I'd hoped that the officers on board would be trained to make the best of the mission, or at least be issued with baseball caps and dark glasses.
Reply ID 61868
quote:Like I said Shunt, you pay for the fee to find out how often that has happenend under the Freedom Of Information Act. I got the baseball cap from the San Diego Air Support Unit, but gave it to a friend in Thailand.......never got the dark glasses though
Originally posted by shunt
If this aircraft finds a vulnerable person in danger, or leads to the capture of a dangerous felon before he presents himself in your living room and demands your car keys, I think most would agree it's earning it's keep. On the other hand, if those occasions are so rare that it's normally flying to entertain police officers, I would question if it's a valid expense. Though buying in pilots makes sense, I'd hoped that the officers on board would be trained to make the best of the mission, or at least be issued with baseball caps and dark glasses.
Reply ID 61870
As I understand it aircraft have to have "flying time", hours that they need to be airborne, (I know there are pilots on this forum so I am more than happy to be corrected) just as pilots have to put in airborne hours so do helicopters etc. these are CAA rules I believe, so seeing this chopper airborne probably means it's clocking up some "air miles"