. Agenda Item No.
TAYSIDE JOINT POLICE BOARD
23 August 1999
Report by the Chief Constable No. PB 37/1999
SUBJECT: AIR SUPPORT
Abstract: This report outlines the benefits offered by Air Support operations and the unique role they are able undertake to enhance traditional policing, rapidly and over a large geographical area. The report seeks the Boards approval to assess the means by which such coverage could be obtained on a permanent basis.
1. RECOMMENDATIONS
It is recommended that the Board:-
i) note the terms of this report and the benefits accrued to date from the use of Air Support to enhance the traditional policing functions, and
ii) support the pursuance of Air Support coverage for the Tayside Police area and the development of an associated business case.
2. BACKGROUND
2.1 Reference is made to Paragraph 4 Minute of Meeting of Tayside Joint Police Board of 24 August 1998 wherein the Board agreed to make representation to the Scottish Office for the Tayside Police area to have access to air support on the same basis as elsewhere.
2.2 Air Support has increasingly become accepted by the police service as being unique in its ability to enhance daily policing operations, rapidly and over a large geographical area. A briefing paper on the benefits of Air Support is attached at Appendix „A‟.
2.3 The operations of Air Support Units elsewhere have, over the past 13 years, repeatedly confirmed the value of such a facility to the police service. A significant number of those forces however benefited from provision by the Home Office of supplementary or „Pump Priming‟ finances, thought necessary to ease the initial establishment of an Air Support Unit.
2.4 The requirement to efficiently police the two major events over the summer period, T in the Park and the Open Golf Championship, necessitated the use of Air Support and has also allowed a unique opportunity to assess the benefits of providing Air Support locally whilst offsetting the associated costs.
Document in F:\Committee Services\Police Board\Report Index\TJPB Report Index 1999.rtf
3. SUMMARY
3.1 Tayside Police has operated an Air Support Unit to augment traditional policing in the six week period up to and including 13th August, 1999. During this period it has contributed positively to the policing of major events; attended reports of crime in progress; assisted in vehicle pursuits; searched for vulnerable missing persons; evacuated critically injured casualties from vehicles crashes and participated in crime prevention in the Force area. The weekly reports are attached at appendices B, C, D and E.
3.2 The operational benefits of Air Support are well recognised and a Briefing Paper is issued with this report. It is clear to the Force that such a facility extends our enhancement of benefits in policing terms, providing the same quality of policing as is enjoyed widely elsewhere. In addition by utilising the latest generation of aircraft all parts of the Tayside area could be served by such a facility within a maximum of 12 minutes.
3.3 Air Support brings with it the same ability to achieve objectives within existing resource allocations for up to 10 hours per day and it also provides a facility to undertake critical functions in protecting life and property without the potential risks in attending by conventional means. The requirements of Health and Safety now apply to police functions and it is important to recognise that some measure of policing is to deal with incidents inside these constraints. In particular the guidance provided in relation to vehicle pursuits offers three combined aspects:-
(a) Stinger Equipment (b) TPACS (a tactic using 4/5 patrol cars to box in a vehicle being pursued) (c) Air Support to undertake the pursuit and direct ground based officers to follow at a distance without the potential for police vehicle collisions.
Tayside Police utilises stinger equipment but has not the capacity to undertake TPACS across the Force area. Anecdotal evidence from the six week facility, has already indicated that Air Support coverage leads to cessation of pursuits and a marked reduction in car theft.
The operational base for air support would logically be an existing airport but this requires careful consideration to balance a number of issues.
Helicopters used by the Police overfly populated urban areas and require a twin engine for safety. This produces a distinctive sound which is clearly evident to those below. The idea of utilising an existing airport at first consideration seems the obvious choice. However, this does raise issues for those resident in the area. When the type of aircraft available at the lower end of the market is utilised, and the access to Accident and Emergency facilities will dictate some operational overflying at all times of the day and night.
It is however an issue that can be effectively addressed by consideration of the new generation of aircraft which whilst still producing distinctive sound patterns, are less disturbing to those in residential proximity to their activity.
3.3 A minimum level of coverage with the older aircraft can be achieved within existing resource allocations and the Board is invited to consider this as an initial means of securing such functions. It is anticipated that more extensive and less intrusive coverage could be achieved by joint arrangements with other agencies in the Tayside area and it is proposed that this be explored with a view to partnership in operating such a facility. The creation of a consortium to operate Air Support will also be considered within the business case.
4. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
4.1 The financial implications are subject to tender although similar units operate for 10 hours daily at costs between £600,000 - £800,000 per annum. A number of options exist with regard to financing the provision of Air Support. These include outright purchase of an aircraft using traditional capital arrangements, leasing of the aircraft, a more encompassing “wet lease” arrangement or through the Private Finance Initiative (PFI). Each of these will have varying financial consequences and will impact on how Air Support is provided and funded within the Force. It is proposed to prepare a business plan for submission to the Board which will detail proposals for achieving such a level of coverage within the current level of resources.
4.2 It is anticipated a feature of any such business plan would be an evaluation of the options to defray the overall costs of providing Air Support in the Tayside area by exploring opportunities to enter into joint arrangements with other agencies and also to examine sponsorship possibilities.
4.3 If such a partnership approach were successful it may be possible to augment the level of coverage provided by Air Support without impacting on the costs to be met by the Force.
5. CONSULTATION
5.1 The Clerk and the Treasurer have been consulted in the preparation of this report
6. CONCLUSION
6.1 Access to Air Support greatly assisted the Force in meeting its responsibilities to police the area of Tayside efficiently during a period of heavy operational demand. Two major events, T in the Park and the Open Golf Championship, were held in quick succession and successfully policed. In addition traditional police methods have been augmented to good effect during the six week trial period.
It is proposed therefore to pursue the feasibility of providing Air Support within the Tayside area preferably by adopting a partnership approach and to produce a business case detailing the findings of this study.
WILLIAM A SPENCE Chief Constable
Police Headquarters 4 West Bell Street Dundee DD1 9JU
30 December 2010 pb37-99
NOTE: No background papers, as defined by Section 50D of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (other than any containing confidential or exempt information) were relied on to any material extent in preparing the above Report. Appendix A
Air Support Briefing Paper for the Tayside Joint Police Board.
Introduction
Police Aviation has existed now in one form or another for over 70 years. It was however the 1980s which saw a dramatic increase in the number of dedicated police air support units (ASU) established within Britain. The Metropolitan Police, Devon and Cornwall, Thames Valley and Sussex Constabularies were amongst the first to operate with the assistance of air support.
In the past, forces have often relied upon the military to provide aircraft on an ad hoc basis but since the end of the Cold War the military has been forced to become more financially prudent. Tasks conducted for the police can no longer be provided under the auspices of training and generally support will only be provided if an immediate threat to life exists.
The formation of police ASU has continued at a rapid pace. Of the 43 forces in England and Wales, 36 (84%) currently operate with the aid of air support. The remaining forces have ready access to air support should it be required. In Scotland, only Strathclyde operates with an ASU.
Interestingly, there appears to be no obvious correlation between force size and the existence of an associated ASU, indeed some of the smallest forces have played a leading role in the development of air support i.e. Wiltshire and Dyfed Powys.
Smaller forces in England and Wales operating ASUs that are not part of a consortium.
Force Officer Strength Area (1000s Acres) Dyfed Powys 1014 2704 North Wales 1408 1554 Wiltshire1 1096 859
Note: Tayside 1105 1853
A number of studies into the potential benefits offered by air support were conducted during the 1980s, the most in depth entitled ‘The Police Use of Aviation’ was published in 1988 by a Joint Working Group prompted by the ACPO Research Requirement Group and Police Requirements Support Unit. This report highlighted the main issues relating to the establishment and operation of ASUs, it commented in summary that, ‘experience has shown quite clearly that the use of aircraft in a wide variety of situations produces major benefits’.
Police air support in England and Wales continues to develop. Indeed, the ability it offers to rapidly respond in support of a wide variety of emergency incidents is now taken for granted by the police service and is demanded by local communities.
1 Wiltshire operate their ASU in partnership with Wiltshire Ambulance Service on a 75%- 25% funding basis respectively. The Benefits of Police Air Support
Primary Police Air Support Tasks
The following tasks are generally regarded as being particularly suitable to be undertaken by air support and can be quantified in financial terms. Costing mechanisms have been included as appropriate.
Searching
One of the most significant advantages provided by air support is the ability to search large areas efficiently and rapidly. The comparative search efficiency of air support and officers on foot was the subject of extensive research conducted by Dr. S O‟Donnell on behalf of the Home Office in 1988. The main conclusions of the report were as follows:
Men on foot were found to be 100% effective at searches. The aircraft were between 90% and 100% effective.
A helicopter can search a square mile of moorland terrain in about 12 minutes. Fixed wing aircraft take about 20 minutes to search a square mile and men on foot take over 450 hours.
The cost to search one square mile is therefore:
Type of Search Time Taken Cost per Hour Cost per Sq. Mile Fixed Wing 22 mins £364* £133 Helicopter 12 mins £750* £150 Officers on foot 454 hours £19.44 £8825
* Based upon 3.5% annual inflation since the report in 1988
Therefore aircraft are in the region of 60 times more cost effective.
In addition to providing greater cost effectiveness, air support can often prove to be of benefit, due to the rapidity with which large areas can be searched as soon as is required and without the delay required to establish and brief large search teams.
This ability can be of particular benefit if the task involves a moving object, where a delay in commencing the search would cause a proportionate increase in the area which needs to be searched, or if the onset of nightfall might lead to a ground search being postponed for several hours.
Evidence gathered from existing ASUs would indicate that not only are routine searches brought to a conclusion more quickly and at less cost, but as a result officers are freed earlier to conduct more specialised policing duties.
Their experience indicates that searches are often conducted using air support, which would be difficult to organise or cost prohibitive had air support not been available. For example, should a child be reported missing from a house near to a stretch of open land measuring, for examples sake, one square mile, currently if the officer in charge wished to conclude the search within an eight hour period, the search would require 64 officers i.e.
Given 8 hours to conclude the search less 1 hour to form and brief the search team. leaves 7 hours search time at 454 officer hours per sq. mile) equals 64 Officers.
In the unlikely event that 64 officers can be found to conduct the search the attributable cost of £8825 will probably deter the officer in charge from contemplating commencing the search in the first place.
If available air support could complete the same square mile search, night or day within 20 minutes (allowing 8 minutes transit time) and at a cost of £250.
Searches can be conducted for a variety of reasons and can take various forms, for example:
Searching for missing persons Searching for suspects or offenders Crime Scene Search and containment Search for Stolen Vehicles and other property
Air support is especially effective at searching large areas of difficult terrain.
.
Using data from the 1988 study, one method of calculating the cost attributable to searching is based upon the assumption that an average police search covers an area of 1/10th of a square mile, which equates to a box with sides of approximately 630 yards. This area is probably an underestimate but, as exact figures are not available, it means that where results favour air support these are likely to be conservative.
On this basis each search currently conducted can be costed as follows:
1/10th Sq. mile searched on foot 45 hours £882 1/10th Sq. mile searched from the air 1.2 minutes £ 15
Therefore air support can provide a potential saving of £867 per search.
Surveillance
With many incidents the assistance of air support often enhances the performance of those officers dealing with the incident itself. There are a number of incident types of this nature, where air support can be of particular assistance:
Vehicle Pursuits:
When air support is available pursuits are conducted more safely and are brought to a quicker and more successful conclusion. A recent ACPOS report on Pursuit Driver training states; “During pursuit situations there is a fundamental acceptance of the value of air support ...”. This is achieved by virtue of the aircraft‟s ability to maintain observation on the offending vehicle and allow the police vehicles to drop back to a safer distance. In addition, by providing a view ahead of the police vehicles, advice can be given as to potential hazards which are as yet unobserved from the ground. Offenders soon become aware of the futility of continuing with pursuits once air support arrives and often give themselves up. As a result of such successes, the mere existence of air support produces a significant deterrent effect on vehicle thieves.
It is not a simple matter to quantify in financial terms the benefits associated with air support in this regard, but evidently the net result will be a reduction in vehicle theft and a lower potential risk of injury to those officers and members of the public involved.
One method of evaluation adopted by Cleveland Constabulary involved an analysis of the savings produced from achieving fewer police vehicle accidents.
Since the introduction of air support, Cleveland were able to demonstrate the following reduction in police vehicle accidents.
Number of police accidents occurring during a vehicle pursuit or whilst responding to an immediate response incident.
Financial Year Number of Police Actual Change (Year on Accidents Year) 1993/94 128 - 1994/95 108 -20 1995/96* 39 -69 1996/97 22 -17 1997/98 39 +17
Document in F:\Committee Services\Police Board\Report Index\TJPB Report Index 1999.rtf * First year of air support.
Cleveland assumed that if it was without air support, then the accident rate would have remained at the 1994/95 number of 108. The drop in number of such accidents to 39 for the year 1995/96 could not be attributed to any other change in police operating methodology and as such a degree of credit had to be given to air support.
Analysis over this period showed that 80% of accidents were caused directly as a result of a pursuit, therefore 55 of the 69 accidents prevented were attributed to the availability of air support. However, in order to increase the credibility of such claims only 50% of the reduction was attributed to air support. Using this method Cleveland Constabulary identified that 28 accidents were prevented a year by the use of air support a reduction of some 30%. Based upon this data a yearly saving of £191,443 was identified, this resulted from reduced direct and indirect accident costs2.
Enhanced Command and Control
Air support can significantly enhance the Command and Control of a variety of incidents by offering a „birds eye view‟ of events to the officer in command. Microwave downlinks are able to transmit real time images from aircraft to either predetermined locations e.g. control rooms or to mobile receivers that can be carried within a briefcase. Air support can be deployed extremely rapidly and is thereby able to provide officers in charge with relevant images quickly.
The following are typical incidents for which air support could prove to be particularly helpful:-
Public Order Incidents e.g. New Age Travellers on Dunnichen Hill Major Incidents e.g. Hercules Crash and the Invergowrie Train Accident. Major Event Management e.g. T in the Park and the Open Golf.
Secondary Police Air Support Tasks
High Profile Policing
By their very nature aircraft attract a considerable degree of attention. They are generally heard and seen from within a large area on the ground below, an area often referred to as the “air support footprint”. The footprint can typically be a mile in diameter (2.1 million sq. metres.). An officer in uniform would potentially only be seen from 100 metres radius (31,412 sq. metres.). Air support is therefore 67 times more visible. In addition, air support can transit travel upwards of 100 mph, some 4 times faster than a patrol car in a built up area. If air support is tasked to give attention to a problem area the assertion must be that this function could be achieved 67 times more effectively and four times more quickly.
2 Direct costs relate to accident damage, whilst indirect costs are determined by the costs associated with the processing of such incidents. Transportation
The use of this facility is not undertaken lightly due to the relatively high cost of this medium of transport, however, where there exists a pressing need to move high priority personnel and/or equipment especially over long distances then air support comes into its own. Aircraft vary in their capacity to undertake such tasks, fixed wing aircraft can only land and take off from airfields where as helicopters have few such restrictions. Older helicopters such as the Aerospaciale Twin Squirrel are only able to carry two passengers (or equivalent) whereas some of the newer models, for example, the McDonnell Douglas Explorer, can carry up to six and have lower sound levels.
Photographic Reconnaissance
Air support is able to rapidly provide high quality images of any area of interest on demand. In addition, once air support has been accepted as a normal part of local life, operations over specific targets do not attract suspicion and become effectively covert.
A photographic tasking can often be conducted at relatively low cost by delaying the task until the aircraft passes the target whilst travelling to other higher priority tasks. If, photographic images are required urgently this can be conducted as a dedicated task.
The introduction of high resolution digital cameras enables images to be processed extremely quickly and if required electronically mailed to remote sites. This means if a drugs team which is about to conduct a raid in Montrose tasks air support to overfly the target address, it could expect to receive up to the minute images within half an hour of that tasking. This could be achieved more quickly by microwave downlinking.
Central Counties ASU are currently operating with the aid of digital camera technology. They have also invested in the optical equipment necessary to display three dimensional images of photographed locations. In addition, they have a number of staff who have been trained by the military in the science of photographic interpretation. As a result of this investment and the promotion of such services, the ASU has seen a significant uptake by operational officers of this facility. As routine images can be taken at relatively low cost, any operation planned a few days in advance is able to receive aerial photographs of the relevant sites.
One particularly topical example of the work being undertaken by Central Counties ASU, relates to the potential future protests against the construction of the Birmingham Northern Relief Road. Work on the project has yet to commence, however, new age protesters of the infamous “Swampy” ilk are already constructing their fortifications. Part of these defences will take the form of an underground bunker which is at present being excavated prior to being reinforced and then covered over with earth. By occasionally over flying the site and taking aerial photographs, up to date maps of the defences have been produced. This will no doubt prove to be an extremely cost effective3 activity once construction begins on the road.
3 Aircraft charter currently costs somewhere in the region of £1000 per hour. The task would need to be planned well in advance and obtaining covert images may be difficult due to the one off nature of such a flight. Casualty Evacuation
This is the one task, which will inevitably win the most public support for an ASU. Despite being the primary responsibility of the Ambulance Service, police helicopters are often best positioned to provide the most timely assistance.
The Scottish Ambulance Service will soon be operating air ambulances from both Glasgow and Inverness airports. Their aim is to provide 24 hour coverage of Scotland but Tayside is distant from those locations.
As an example, if a serious road traffic accident occurred at this moment on the A90 just south of Brechin the response times, would be as follows4:-
From: Distance: Time taken:
Inverness 75.7 miles 37 mins
Glasgow 89.2 miles 42 mins
Dundee 22.7 miles 14 mins
The 23 minutes saved in attending from Dundee could certainly prove crucial. Strong easterly winds would increase transit times from Inverness and Glasgow yet further and make attendance from a local base more advantageous.
Search and Rescue (Land and Sea)
Police air support is capable of assisting in search and rescue operations both on land and over water. Police helicopters can play a vital role in locating and monitoring the casualty.
Since RAF Leuchars ceased Air Sea Rescue operations, Tayside has been covered from the bases at either Kinloss, Prestwick or Boulmer, dependent upon the prevailing wind and availability of resources. Given the significant distance from all three bases, transit times in excess of 45 minutes are now the norm. Police air support based in Tayside could potentially reduce the impact of this time delay by locating casualties, monitoring their condition and marking their position.
Firearms Operations
Air support can be of particular benefit when dealing with firearms incidents. By being able to stand off at a safe distance from an incident and still observe the locus, with the aid of gyrostabilised telescopic video equipment, commentary or images can be made available to the firearms teams dealing with the incident.
4 These figures are based upon 140 mph speed across the ground and an allowance of 4 mins to scramble the aircraft. .
Within Tayside, air support could potentially be used to transport firearms officers to the scenes of more remote incidents. This would reduce attendance time dramatically e.g. Dundee to Pitlochry by car 1 hour, by air 15 minutes. Appendix B provides an extract from the „Manual of Guidance on Police Use of Firearms‟ concerning air support.
The Result of Air Support Coverage over a four week period.
Background
An operational requirement for air support was identified for events such as the Open Golf Championship and T in the Park. In addition there was desire to evaluate the potential benefits which air support could offer within the Tayside area.
An Air Support Unit was accordingly required to operate from 1st July to 13th August 1999, inclusive. Following negotiations with all principal aviation companies within the policing market, Police Aviation Services Limited of Gloucester were successful in their tender for the lease of a suitably role equipped, police marked helicopter and pilotage.
The aircraft, which is presently based at Dundee airport, is crewed by officers from Tayside Police with the addition of one observer seconded from an existing air support unit.
The aircraft a Bolkow 105, is equipped as follows;
Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) „Heli-Tele‟ Camera Equipment plus Microwave down-linking capability Northern Airborne Technology Communication System (NATS – 2 UHF, 2 VHF channels) Racal Cougar Encrypted Radio Equipment Sky shout – Air to ground broadcast system „Nitesun‟ – A 30 million candle power spotlight Photographic equipment Stabilised binoculars Stretcher
The aircraft has been on standby for 10 hours per day 7 days a week. However, during the latter 5 days of the Open Golf Championship the aircraft was available for 20 hours per day.
Typical response times with this particular aircraft are;
Location Response time from Dundee Airport Central Division Dundee 1 minute
Eastern Division Forfar 7 minutes Arbroath 9 minutes Monifieth 4 minutes Carnoustie 6 minutes Kirriemuir 8 minutes Brechin 12 minutes Montrose 14 minutes Glen Clova 14 minutes
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Western Division Perth 8 minutes Blairgowrie 8 minutes Errol 4 minutes Crieff 16 minutes Kinross 11 minutes Spittal of Glenshee 15 minutes Pitlochry 16 minutes
The Operational Results
The unit has to date been operating for just four weeks and in that time it has had a number of significant successes. However a word of caution must be introduced, and that is that air support units take time to reach their optimum effectiveness and this unit is no different.
The following reports highlight the notable results so far. With experienced crew and officers on the ground who are used to working with air support, even more could be expected from the unit. Full time air support units typically provide 20 hours of cover per day, double that which is currently offered. Many incidents have occurred during the four weeks operating period when the aircraft was unavailable to help.
During the first four weeks, the aircraft has transported trauma teams from Ninewells Hospital on two occasions. Following one serious accident on the A90 at Stracathro the aircraft, which is permanently fitted with a stretcher, conveyed the trauma team to the scene of the accident some 25 miles away in just over ten minutes. The aircraft was thereafter utilised to transfer a critically injured 12 year old boy, from the scene to Ninewells Hospital, the transit again taking little over ten minutes.
The aircraft was utilised significantly during T in the Park and the Open Golf Championship and was able to assist greatly with the traffic management of both events. The aircraft was also available to improve the command and control of resources during these events and in particular was on standby should a major incident have occurred. Indeed, should a major incident have occurred anywhere in the Tayside Police area during the past four weeks then the aircraft would have been available to attend the scene and assist by providing a downlinked aerial view of the incident.
In dealing with crime, the aircraft has assisted in the search for and apprehension of 8 suspects. In one week alone the aircraft was involved in two incidents during which 3 suspects were arrested with the direct assistance of the aircraft. The first followed a housebreaking in Dundee, with the aircraft quickly locating the culprits as they made off. The two were video recorded attempting to hide stolen property and were shortly thereafter arrested by ground units talked into the area by the aircraft‟s crew. There can be little doubt that without the aircraft these two would not have been caught so rapidly or with such an amount of incriminating evidence in their possession.
The second incident took place in Arbroath and followed a search for a male who had made off from a stolen vehicle. Again the suspect was identified from the air and upon seeing the aircraft attempted to shake off his pursuers. A chase followed during which the male was video recorded running through tenement closes and across back gardens in an attempt to avoid arrest. Ground units were continually being directed towards him and eventually caught and arrested him. The male, pleaded guilty to stealing a motor car, driving carelessly and having no driving licence or insurance.
The aircraft has also demonstrated its flexibility in undertaking a wide range of other tasks, such as VIP Protection, Crime Scene Containment, Photographic Reconnaissance and Search and Rescue activities in the Tay estuary.
A more detailed analysis of the unit‟s activities can be found in the 4 weekly reports of operations. Many of the benefits associated with the aircraft‟s presence are however impossible to quantify: the deterrent effect the aircraft has on the criminal fraternity and the reassurance offered to the general public being just two examples.
Tayside Police Air Support Unit
Weekly report on operations between 1st July and 7th July 1999.
Summary
During the first week of operations the aircraft has flown on 17 sorties during which it has conducted 20 missions. The aircraft has flown for a total of 8 hours and 1 minute, an average of 1 hour and 9 minutes per day.
Many of the tasks conducted have involved searching for missing or suspect persons. As a result of these activities two missing persons have been traced and two suspects have been detained.
In total circa 96 minutes of flying time has been devoted to searches. Using the figures from the Home Office trial, published in the report by Dr. S O‟Donnell of the SRDB, (One square mile taking 12 minutes to search by air or 454 man hours on foot.). The 96 minutes of searching equates to 8 square miles searched. Had this been conducted on foot, the staffing cost required to do so would have been circa £69,000.
Of particular interest was the units involvement in dealing with a serious RTA on the A90 at Stracathro. The aircraft, which is permanently fitted with a stretcher, immediately launched to uplift a trauma team from Ninewells Hospital. This team was conveyed to the scene of the accident some 25 miles away in just over ten minutes. The aircraft was thereafter utilised to transfer a critically injured 12 year old boy, from the scene to Ninewells Hospital, the transit again taking little over ten minutes.
The aircraft‟s operations were restricted in the first week by poor weather, with particularly low visibility on the 2nd and 3rd July. Additionally, the unit‟s officers have been required to spend time acquainting themselves and others with the aircraft and their role.
The aircraft‟s usage is therefore presently less than the predicted 2 hours average per day, however daily usage will increase during T in the Park and the Open Golf Championship. This will be particularly so as the unit will be operating two shifts per day for a 5 day period during these event.
Operational Log
Thursday, 1st July Duration of Task 15:20 hours Search of Lunan Bay Cliffs for missing person Christopher 70 minutes Philips. Area searched and eliminated. On return from task photographic reconnaissance work undertaken. 20 min. search
19:00 hours Photographic Reconnaissance task undertaken at Scone 55 minutes Palace for event planning purposes.
20:25 hours Search in Perth for three persons involved in abduction 40 minutes and assault. 2 males subsequently detained in relation to another unconnected incident. 20 min search
Friday, 2nd July 18:22 hours Photo Reconnaissance of Glamis Castle, including the 65 minutes recording of aerial video footage to assist with future event planning. 15 min search Search of Oathlaw Woods near Forfar for stolen extending platform on behalf of the Autocrime Unit. Area searched and eliminated.
20:00 hours Location – Strawberrybank, Dundee. Search for 2 persons 35 minutes
who had made of from a housebreaking nearby. Suspects traced during search by divisional officers. 15 min search Location – Riverview Park, Monifieth. Aircraft utilised to monitor the movement of travellers into the Monifieth area. 21:50 hours Location – Kinnoull Hill, Perth. Despite very poor weather 20 minutes conditions and low cloud, the aircraft attended to search for a 10 year old boy who had been missing since 21:00 hours. Youth appeared from woods shortly after the aircraft‟s arrival.
Saturday, 3rd July Weather – Low cloud severely hampered operations. 21:12 hours Re-fuelling at RAF Leuchars, Low visibility navigation 25 minutes exercise.
Sunday, 4th July 16:15 hours Location – Dundee West. 29 year old female missing from 10 minutes Dundee Liff Hospital. Area searched by aircraft and misper found by crew in Kingsway West. Aircraft directed other 8 min search units to recover the misper.
20:15 hours Location – Perth Area. Training exercise involving the use 50 minutes of Forward Looking Infra-red technology. During exercise 1 male seen in the River Tay, apparently in distress. Perth control advised. Aircraft remained in the area for 10 minutes until male picked up by private boat.
Monday, 5th July Media Launch 12:10 hours Location – Law Hill, Dundee. Press flight for media launch. 15 minutes
12:40 hours Location – Carnoustie. Reconnaissance flight with 30 minutes members of the press on board.
Tuesday, 6th July 12:40 hours Location – Lochee, Dundee. Male responsible for theft 15 minutes made off from police, pursued but lost in garden area. Insufficient officers to provide full containment. Area 10 min search searched but divisional officers believe suspect had entered a house. Search stood down.
15:30 hours Location – A90 Stracathro. Aircraft requested to attend the 15 minutes scene of a fatal RTA. Uplifted trauma team from Ninewells Hospital and thereafter conducted a 10 minute transit to the scene.
16:20 hours Conducted casualty evacuation of 12 year old boy in a 20 minutes critical condition from the scene of the fatal RTA to Ninewells Hospital, Dundee. Returned to Dundee Airport.
19:50 hours Location – Dundee. Received report of light aircraft having 10 minutes ditched in the river. River searched and eliminated. 6 min search 20:10 hours Location – Inchture. Report of vehicle crashed and three 5 minutes persons made off. Aircraft attended scene and located individuals however vehicle discover not to have been 2 min search
stolen.
Wednesday, 7th July 14:28 hours Location – Strathmartin Road. Request to attend a report 1 minute of a firearms incident. Uniformed officers stopped suspect vehicle and its occupants.
Requests Declined
20:10 hours, Location – Kinross area. Ongoing pursuit of male having made off from Friday 2nd July. stolen vehicle. Aircraft attempted to attend but prevented from reaching destination by low cloud.
08:00 hours, Location – Glenfarg. Emergency Call out requested for three males Tuesday, 6th July. suspected of attempted HBs overnight. Males last scene at 06:30 hours, request refused due to the nature of the incident, the poor potential for success and the impact such a call out would have on the remainder of the days operations. Persons traced by divisional officers minutes after the request being made.
17:20 hours, Location – Dundee. Vehicle being pursued by other police units. Aircraft Tuesday, 6th July. unavailable due to cleaning up of blood from within the aircraft from casevac.
Downtime
21:00 hours – 22:00 hours, Friday, 2 July – Poor weather. 16:55 hours – 18:20 hours, Tuesday, 6th July – Aircraft being decontaminated following blood spillage from casevac.
Tayside Police Air Support Unit
Weekly report on operations between 8th July and 14th July 1999.
Summary
During the second week of operations the aircraft has flown on 51 sorties during which it has conducted 59 missions. The aircraft has flown for a total of 16 hours and 54 minutes, an average of 2 hours and 25 minutes per day.
In total circa 264 minutes of flying time has been devoted to searches. Using the figures from the Home Office trial, published in the report by Dr. S O‟Donnell of the SRDB, (One square mile taking 12 minutes to search by air or 454 man hours on foot). The 264 minutes of searching equates to 8 square miles searched. Had this been conducted on foot, the staffing cost required to do so would have been circa £189,500.
To date a total of 24 hours 55 minutes of flying time has been utilised in a 14 day period. The contract allows for an average of 2 hours flying time per day and as such the unit has presently 3 hours and 5 minutes to spare. It is anticipated however that double shifts to be employed during the Open Golf Championship will redress this position.
Of particular note during this period was the aircraft‟s contribution at T in the Park where command and control functions were considerably enhanced by utilising the microwave downlinking facility. The helicopter, which had been pre-positioned at Balado, provided an instant response to a number of incidents and downlinked live video images to control. This assisted control in allocating the appropriate police response to the incidents.
Similarly, a rapid response was made to a report of two boys stranded on mud flats near to Barry Buddon. The aircraft proved its worth by quickly eliminating large search areas and in co-ordinating the Coastguard and RNLI operations.
Operational Log
Thursday, 8th July Duration of Task (Search time in Italics) 13:00 hours Location – Beechwood, Dundee. Search for two males who 20 minutes had shortly before run off from a stolen vehicle. Area 15 minutes searched with negative result. 14:55 hours Communications check for Open Golf Championship. 10 minutes 15:15 hours Check flight for microwave downlinking, Open Golf 40 minutes Championship. Response to personal attack alarm, Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre, Nethergate, Dundee. Area contained until arrival of ground units. Confirmed false alarm. 17:50 hours Location – Drumgieth Park, Dundee. Report of two youths on a stolen motor cycle. Traced by ground units just prior to aircraft‟s arrival. Video and Stills footage obtained for T in the Park Planning. 19:20 hours Location – Crieff. Suspect made off towards River Earn. 45 minutes Area around river bank searched and eliminated. 15 minutes 21:00 hours Navigation exercise and missing person search including 45 minutes an urban street search in Perth and Dundee. 25 minutes
Friday, 9th July 14:40 hours Location – Royal Bank of Scotland, High Street, 25 minutes Carnoustie. Raid Alarm activation. False alarm, aircraft
cancelled whilst en route. Report of possible theft HB in progress, Brington Terrace, Dundee. Male traced found to be householder‟s son. 16:20 hours – 21:30 Location – Camperdown Park, Dundee. Missing 12 year 80 minutes hours. old boy with learning difficulties. Park searched on three occasions. PA system used to alert other park users. 50 minutes Camperdown Park area eliminated. Misper later found in Albert Street, Dundee.
Saturday, 10th July 11:15 hours – 14:20 Location - T in the Park, Balado. 227 minutes hours. Transit to Kinross. Overview flight for venue commanders. 9 minutes BBC filming flight (Aircraft sub-contracted). Navigation training and return flight to Dundee for re- fuelling. Return to Kinross. Photo flight for journalist (Aircraft sub-contracted). Re-fuelling flight to Leuchars. Return to Kinross. Report of youths climbing over Y12 gate. Aircraft on scene, downlink used to enhance command and control. Report of youths fighting Y11 and Y12, downlink used to enhance command and control. Report of Bottle fight Y12 gate. , downlink used to enhance command and control. BBC filming flight, including unit publicity.
Sunday, 11th July 12:05 hours – 20:40 Location – T in the Park, Balado. 235 minutes hours. Return to Dundee for refuelling. Audio Visual Unit filming flight. 45 minutes Press agency flight (Aircraft sub-contracted). Search for Two males responsible to a stabbing within the venue. Area searched with negative result. Return flight to Dundee for re-fuelling. Return to Balado. Continuation of search for two males responsible for serious assault within the venue. Aircraft requested for casualty evacuation. Aircraft landed awaiting casevac patient but not required. Aerial photography conducted of locus of this incident. Return to Dundee.
Monday, 12th July 09:40 hours Location – Kinross. Request to search area near to T in the 65 minutes Park sight for two males responsible for attempt OLPs. Area searched and eliminated. 40 minutes Whilst en route back to Dundee, aircraft requested to attend Coupar Angus area to search for female allegedly abducted from the „Berry Fields‟. Area searched and eliminated. Location of nearby travellers sight identified and male and female concerned later located there by ground units. 11:38 hours Pre-positioned to Barry Camp. Video footage obtained for 39 minutes Golf Planning.
18:00 hours Location – Dunmore Street, Dundee. Area search for male 15 minutes. having made off from motorcycle following pursuit. Negative result.
Tuesday, 13th July 08:57 hours Communications check flight for the Open Golf 8 minutes Championship. 10:05 hours The Open Golf Traffic Management. 33 minutes. 13:15 hours Location – Rockfield Street, Dundee. 15 minutes Report of male acting suspiciously, looking into windows outside dwelling house. Aircraft searched area along with 10 minutes ground units. Elderly complainer traced, false alarm with good intent. 13:50 hours Location - A92 at Ardestie Toll. 35 minutes Report of vehicle made off from officers. Area search of track conducted and eliminated. 10 minutes Traffic Management – Monitoring of reverse tidal flow for the Open Golf Championship. Area search of local fields for two outstanding stolen vehicles. 15:48 hours Training flight with dog handler. 12 minutes
Wednesday, 14th July 07:04 hours – 14:58 Open Golf Traffic Management – 5 flights. 97 minutes hours. 16:00 hours Location – Barry Buddon, Carnoustie. 45 minutes Request from Coastguard to search for two boys stranded on mud flats off Barry Buddon. Joint search conducted with 35 minutes RNLI. Areas eliminated. 17:07 hours Request from Coastguard to extend search for missing 15 minutes persons. Whilst searching Golf Control informed that those concerned had returned safe and well. 5 minutes 20:40 hours Location – Perth Road, Dundee. Report of persons 20 minutes attempting to remove cover of night safe at Royal Bank of Scotland and having made off in a Renault Vehicle. Area 15 minutes searched with negative result.
Requests Declined
NONE
Downtime
NONE
Tayside Police Air Support Unit
Weekly report on operations between 15th July and 21st July 1999.
Summary
During the third week of operations the aircraft has flown on 50 sorties during which it has conducted 55 missions. The aircraft has flown for a total of 20 hours and 17 minutes, an average of 2 hours and 53 minutes per day.
In total circa 274 minutes of flying time has been devoted to searches. Using the figures from the Home Office trial, published in the report by Dr. S O‟Donnell of the SRDB, (One square mile taking 12 minutes to search by air or 454 man hours on foot.). The 274 minutes of searching equates to 23 square miles searched. Had this been conducted on foot, the staffing cost required to do so would have been circa £196,677.
To date a total of 45 hours 12 minutes of flying time has been utilised in a 21 day period. The contract allows for an average of 2 hours flying time per day and that target is currently being met. As anticipated, the double shifts employed during the Golf Open have absorbed last week‟s spare flying time.
Of particular note during this period was the aircraft‟s involvement at the Open Golf, Carnoustie, where the video downlink proved a positive asset for Traffic management and Command and Control functions.
The aircraft also proved its worth in relation to searching for vulnerable Missing Persons. On the 20th July, 1999, its use was requested by Grampian Police, in searching for a distressed female missing from her home in Ellon. Some 105 minutes was devoted to the search which equates to 9 square miles. This vast rural and coastal area was eliminated at an early stage of the enquiry.
On the 21st July 1999, a quick and successful conclusion was brought to an incident involving a suicidal compulsory patient from Liff Hospital, Dundee. The missing person was traced by the helicopter in a position where it is highly unlikely he would have been found by ground units. He was found in a place of potential danger near a railway line and short distance away from the Tay Bridge, where he had previously attempted suicide. A vast area was searched in a short space of time and the male safely returned to Liff Hospital.
Operational Log
Thursday, 15 July Duration of Task (Search time in Italics)
00:10 hours Training flight - familiarisation with principles of night flying 30 minutes and use of Nightsun.
07:10 hours Transit to Golf Control and traffic monitoring for Carnoustie 20 minutes Open Golf utilising microwave downlink.
09:00 hours Open Golf- traffic monitoring using microwave downlink to 15 minutes Golf Control.
10:05 hours Road traffic accident at Abernethy- driver made off from 45 minutes locus. Search of surrounding area. Negative result. 35 minutes
13:00 hours Open Golf- traffic monitoring using microwave downlink to 10 minutes Golf Control.
13:40 hours Media filming with Chief Constable at Golf Control 35 minutes
15:03 hours Open Golf- traffic monitoring using microwave downlink to 15 minutes Golf Control.
1635 hours Along with Dog Section, searched wooded area at 40 minutes Strathmartine Hospital for 2 males responsible for bag 35 minutes snatch. Area eliminated.
Friday, 16 July
0015 hours Night Navigation training in Kirriemuir and Forfar area. 40 minutes Location – Ballindean Terrace, Dundee. Search of urban area following RTA. Driver made of and subsequently 10 minutes apprehended by ground Officers. Open Golf- traffic monitoring using microwave downlink to 0825 hours Golf Control. 60 minutes
Open Golf- traffic monitoring using microwave downlink to 1010 hours Golf Control. 30 minutes
Open Golf- traffic monitoring using microwave downlink to 1155 hours Golf Control. 10 minutes
Open Golf- traffic monitoring using microwave downlink to 1345 hours Golf Control. 25 minutes
Open Golf- traffic monitoring using microwave downlink to 1505 hours Golf Control. 10 minutes
Location – Shanwell Cemetery, Carnoustie. Search for 1635 hours male exposing himself, incident having occurred about 30 minutes 1600 hours same date, area searched and eliminated.
Open Golf- traffic monitoring using microwave downlink to Golf Control. 1810 hours 15 minutes Open Golf- traffic monitoring using microwave downlink to Golf Control. Audio Visual recording for Operational 1915 hours Planning purposes. 25 minutes
Urban Navigation Exercise in Dundee area.
2105 hours 10 minutes
Saturday, 17 July
0805 hours Open Golf- traffic monitoring using microwave downlink to 10 minutes Golf Control.
1000 hours Air Reconnaissance and Filming of Open Golf for 25 minutes Emergency Planning Department.
1115 hours Open Golf- traffic monitoring using microwave downlink to 30 minutes Golf Control.
1210 hours Open Golf- traffic monitoring using microwave downlink to 10 minutes Golf Control.
1627 hours Pre-position to Golf Control for traffic monitoring purposes. 5 minutes
Return to Dundee 1710 hours 5 minutes Location – Finella Gardens, Dundee. 2 year old missing 1730 hours from front garden for 15 minutes. Search of surrounding 10 minutes area commenced. Misper traced by family friend at local 6 minutes shops some ½ mile from home.
Monitoring of spectators leaving Open Golf and of traffic observations at car parks and A92 at termination of days 1815 hours event. Downlink of images to Golf Control. 30 minutes
Return to base at Dundee
1905 hours 5 minutes
Sunday, 18 July
0045 hours Location- Peddie Street, Dundee. Report of male in street 5 minutes with a gun. Confirmed by ground units that it was a bogus call. Location- Monkton Place, Dundee. Car on fire in the street. 5 minutes Search of surrounding streets in case abandoned stolen vehicle. Confirmed by ground units as being in order. Night Navigation Exercise using FLIR and Nightsun in Forfar area. 20 minutes
Open Golf- traffic monitoring using microwave downlink to 0840 hours Golf Control. 10 minutes
Open Golf- traffic monitoring using microwave downlink to 1010 hours Golf Control. 15 minutes
Video flight of Open Golf on behalf of Emergency Planning. 1200 hours 25 minutes Video Flight of Golf Open for Ian Strachan, Audio Visual Department. 1340 hours 45 minutes Location- A92 Carnoustie. Report of stolen HGV containing high value Golf Equipment. Vehicle traced, false alarm with
1500 hours good intent. 15 minutes 5 minutes Location – Dronley Road, Birkhill. Report of male passing firearm through a hedge of a dwelling house. Male traced 1542 hours by aircraft and ground units talked onto him. Found to be in 15 minutes order. Object confirmed as being a garden implement. 10 minutes
Open Golf- traffic monitoring using microwave downlink to Golf Control.
1625 hours Location – Open Golf. Photo flight for Courier 10 minutes Photographer and demonstration of aircraft role equipment to Inspector Donald. 1725 hours 10 minutes Open Golf- traffic monitoring using microwave downlink to Golf Control.
1956 hours Monitoring of spectators leaving Open Golf and of traffic 12 minutes observations at car parks and A92 at termination of days event. Downlink of images to Golf Control. 2050 hours 28 minutes
Monday, 19 July
1906 hours Public Relations / Publicity flight with Perthshire Advertiser 40 minutes Reporter and Photographer.
2034 hours Location – Royal Dundee Liff Hospital. Search of grounds 5 minutes for Suicidal Compulsory Patient. Misper traced in Dundee 3 minutes by ground units.
Tuesday, 20 July
0023 hours Location – Infirmary Street, Brechin. Insecurity found at 30 minutes Health Centre, believed persons still in vicinity. Weather prevented attendance. Subsequently confirmed as vandalism.
1434 hours Location- Ellon, Grampian Police. Transit to Ellon in 30 minutes response by Grampian Police to assist in vulnerable Misper.
1600 hours Location – Ellon. Misper, 46 year old depressed female last 65 minutes seen 0500 hours at home address. Search of River Ythan 60 minutes and fields surrounding home address. Downlink to Incident Commander using portable receiver. Negative result. Transit to Aberdeen for Refuel.
Location – Ellon. Search for Misper from Balmenie 1730 hours northwards to Cruden Bay and also cliffs at Slain Castle. 50 minutes Negative result. Transit to Ellon and stood down. 45 minutes
Transit to Dundee using Coastal Route.
1855 hours Proactive night flight over Kirkton area in response to trend 45 minutes in break-ins and vehicle thefts. 2330 hours 30 minutes
Wednesday,21 July
1822 hours Demonstration of aircraft and role equipment to Mr McKay 34 minutes and Douglas Cross.
1920 hours Location – Royal Dundee Liff Hospital. Suicidal 28 minutes Compulsory Patient missing from Hospital, last seen at 25 minutes Swallow Hotel. Search of immediate area and route to home address in Linlathen. Further information that misper had attempted suicide at Tay Bridge. Riverside area searched and Aircraft traced misper on footbridge over railway. Ground units talked to misper and returned to RDLH.
2020 hours Location – Arbroath Road, Dundee. Photo task of fatal 30 minutes RTA. Location – Albert Street, Dundee. Assistance call regarding 10 minutes disturbance in street and male made off. Area searched – negative.
2135 hours Location – Crathie Place, Dundee. Search for 6 year old 10 minutes misper. Shortly after arrival informed that mother had 5 minutes traced misper.
Requests Declined
NONE
Downtime
Aircraft Offline between 2200 hours and 0130 hours 19th July 1999, due to weather conditions being seriously reduced below Operational Limits by low cloud and rain.
Tayside Police Air Support Unit
Weekly report on operations between 22nd July and 28th July 1999.
.
Summary
During the fourth week of operations the aircraft has flown on 26 occasions and has attended 35 incidents/ tasks. During that time the aircraft has been airborne for 22 hours and 52 minutes, of this 7 hours 15 minutes was involved in VIP protection for Central Scotland Police and 50 minutes was spent searching for a missing person in Fife. The remaining 14 hours and 47 minutes were utilised within Tayside at an average of 2 hours and 7 minutes per day.
In total circa 377 minutes of flying time has been devoted to searches. Using the figures from the Home Office trial, published in the report by Dr. S O‟Donnell of the SRDB, (One square mile taking 12 minutes to search by air or 454 man hours on foot.). The 377 minutes of searching equates to 31 square miles searched. Had this been conducted on foot, the staffing cost required to do so would have been circa £270,611.
Of particular interest during the fourth weeks activities were the two incidents involving the aircraft which directly resulted in the apprehension of three known criminals. The first followed a housebreaking in Clepington Road, Dundee, with the aircraft quickly locating the culprits as they made off through the Eastern Cemetery. The two were video recorded attempting to hide stolen property and were shortly thereafter arrested by ground units talked into the area by the aircraft‟s crew. There can be little doubt that without the aircraft these two would not have been caught so rapidly or with such an amount of incriminating evidence in their possession.
The second incident took place in Arbroath, and followed a search for a male who had made off from a stolen vehicle. Again the suspect was identified from the air and upon seeing the aircraft attempted to shake off his pursuers. A chase followed during which the male was video recorded running through tenement closes and across back gardens in an attempt to avoid arrest. Ground units were continually being directed towards him and eventually caught and arrested him. The male, a David Guthrie (17), appeared the following day at Arbroath Sheriff Court and pleaded guilty to stealing a motor car, driving carelessly and having no driving licence or insurance.
The aircraft was repeatedly used to search for vulnerable missing persons and again demonstrated its ability to eliminate large areas of land that would otherwise have required protracted searches by beat officers. In total 175 minutes was devoted to searching for missing persons, the same searches conducted on foot would have taken a team of 100 officers 2.75 days to search as effectively. The use of traditional means to conduct such searches would be completely impractical and historically many of these searches would not have been undertaken for that reason.
The unit was again asked to convey a trauma team from Ninewells Hospital to the scene of a serious road accident. The aircraft was able to convey the team and its equipment rapidly and safely to the scene in Bridge of Earn. The transit, which took 10 minutes by air, would by road at high speed have taken around 40 minutes to arrange.
The aircraft also continued to demonstrate its flexibility undertaking a wide range of other tasks, such as VIP Protection, Crime Scene Containment, Phototasks and Search and Rescue activities.
Document in F:\Committee Services\Police Board\Report Index\TJPB Report Index 1999.rtf .
Operational Log
Thursday, 22nd July Duration of Task 01:35 hours Location – Dundee. VHF Communications check with 15 minutes Central Scotland Police in preparation for a forthcoming operation.
16:35 hours Search of the banks of the River Tay for a missing 68- 35 minutes year-old female from Seafield Road, Broughty Ferry. The women in question had previously attempted to 25 min search commit suicide by taking pills. Area searched an eliminated.
19:40 hours Aircraft attended over 23 Fintry Terrace, Dundee 45 minutes following a report of a male firing a firearm from the rear garden. The crew confirmed to ground units that 5 min search there was no activity in the rear garden and thereafter assisted with the command and control of the incident. Incident later found to be a false alarm with good intent.
19:40 hours Following the report of a break-in to a house in 45 minutes Buchanan Street, Dundee. The aircraft immediately attended the area and conducted a search for the 30 min search males responsible without success.
The aircraft thereafter attended an alarm activation at Craigiebarns Primary School, Dundee and contained the area until the arrival of ground units. Confirmed as false alarm.
20:55 hours Aircraft requested to attend the A90 Eastbound from 10 minutes Perth to assist a traffic unit to stop a Peugeot motor car. The vehicle, with four occupants, had previously been turned away from Perth Prison. The vehicle, which had refused to stop for a marked police vehicle, stopped immediately the aircraft arrived on scene. The aircraft remained on scene until the arrival of sufficient ground units to assist.
22:55 hours Search conducted for a suicidal 30-year-old missing 25 minutes person from the Kirkton area of Dundee. The eastern cemetery, where the mispers son is buried, searched 15 min search using the Forward Looking Infra-Red sensor. Area eliminated relieving ground units to work elsewhere.
Friday, 23rd July 01:20 hours Report of two males having made off from a stolen 40 minutes vehicle in the Lochee area of Dundee. The aircraft attended the area and assisted with the search for the 25 min search two suspects. One male arrested from within a nearby house by divisional officers.
Aircraft thereafter attended at Marlee Caravan Park, Blairgowrie to search for a male who had made off after a dispute. Areas searched at the request of Document in F:\Committee Services\Police Board\Report Index\TJPB Report Index 1999.rtf ground units and eliminated.
17:40 hours Repeat search for missing 68 year old from Seafield 45 minutes Road, Broughty Ferry. Coastline searched from Barry Buddon to Broughty Ferry and eliminated. 30 min search
Photo task conducted at Barry Buddon Camp.
Search conducted for three missing children seen in the Albert Street area 30 minutes prior to the call. Three children checked out in Alexander Street but were not those in question.
21:40 hours Search of farmland in Perthshire for missing 38-year- 130 minutes old female. Treated as vulnerable having attempted suicide before and had left both her children. Call 110 min search received from misper on mobile phone to say she was in a field and feeling very cold. Large area searched during the hours of darkness using FLIR and eliminated. Misper traced having returned to her home address.
Saturday, 24th July 15:45 hours Phototask – Dundee City Centre. 15 minutes
16:30 hours Search conducted for an abscondee from Castle 45 minutes Huntly YOI. Reported missing within previous hour. Area searched and eliminated.
17:30 hours Search of the coastline for missing person from 15 minutes Broughty Ferry. Area searched and eliminated. Refuel at Leuchars.
18:15 hours Following a serious road accident in Bridge of Earn. 35 minutes Aircraft requested to uplift trauma team from Ninewells Hospital and convey them to the scene. Trauma team transported to the scene within 10 minutes. Aircraft Refuelled at Leuchars.
21:15 hours Report of persons within unoccupied premises, 40 minutes Dunsinane Industrial Estate, Dundee. Building contained from above until ground units attended an arrested 3 males from within. 22 min search
Suspect made off from an Auto Crime Unit in MacAlpine Road, Dundee. Vehicle located by the aircraft and pursued until stopped by other units. One male warned regarding his manner of driving. Search for abscondee from Castle Huntly YOI missing within the last 15 minutes. Area searched without success.
Sunday, 25th July 14:10 hours Request from Fife Constabulary to search the coastline 50 minutes near to St. Andrews for a vulnerable missing person. Area between St. Andrews and Kingsbarns searched 40 min search and eliminated.
15:10 hours Central Scotland Police – Aircraft requested to assist 255 minutes with VIP protection of the Israeli Ambassador during his visit to the Maccabi Games, Stirling.
20:50 hours Refuel at Leuchars 10 minutes
Monday, 26th July 18:35 hours Continuation of VIP protection coverage for Central 180 minutes Scotland Police in Stirling.
23:25 hours Search of Kingoldrum area for persons disturbed 45 minutes attempting to break-in to premises and who had made off. Area searched and eliminated. 30 min search
Tuesday, 27th July 17:15 hours Search in the Whitfield area for two youths on a red 40 minutes motorcycle which was being driven erratically and was possibly stolen. Area near to gas towers searched and 30 min search eliminated.
Thereafter, attended the report of a housebreaking in Finella Place, Dundee. Vehicle seen leaving the locus and thought to be related to the incident traced by the aircraft and eliminated from the enquiry.
18:35 hours Following the report of a break-in to a house in 30 minutes Clepington Road, Dundee, the aircraft immediately commenced a search of the area concerned for the 15 min search two males responsible. Following a brief search the two males found walking through the Eastern Cemetery. The suspects attempted to avoid the aircraft and were video recorded attempting to hide stolen property under a nearby tree. Ground units directed to and arrested the two males concerned, who have since been charged with a number of similar crimes in that area.
The aircraft thereafter attended at a flat in Kirk Street, Lochee following a 999 call from a female caller who was apparently being assaulted. Containment provided until ground unit attended.
21:14 hours Attended the report of a housebreaking in progress in 12 minutes the Whitfield area of Dundee. Area contained but transpired to be a false alarm.
Wednesday, 28th July 16:35 hours Ten phototasks conducted for special branch. 70 minutes
18:40 hours Joint search and rescue exercise with the Broughty 25 minutes Ferry Lifeboat conducted in the Tay Estuary.
19:55 hours Report of a male having made off from a stolen vehicle 50 minutes in the Arbroath area. Male identified from the air running across back gardens, male followed until 20 min search apprehended by ground units.
21:25 hours Aircraft requested to conduct a search of the 15 minutes Nethergate area of Dundee for male wanted in connection with an earlier stabbing. Area checked without success.
22:00 hours Attended Walton Street, Dundee following the report of 50 minutes a person on the roof on industrial premises. Area contained until searched by ground units. 20 min search
Search for a suspicious vehicle within Panmure Estate, Carnoustie. Area searched and eliminated.
Refuelling at Leuchars
Requests Declined None
Downtime None
Tayside Police Air Support Unit
Weekly report on operations between 29th July and 4th August 1999.
Summary
During the fifth week of operations the aircraft has flown on 26 occasions and has attended 35 incidents/tasks. During that time the aircraft has been airborne for 13 hours and 18 minutes, of this 20 minutes was involved in searching the Johnshaven area on behalf of Grampian Police and 45 minutes was spent searching for a missing child at West Sands, St Andrews, Fife. The remaining 12 hours and 33 minutes were utilised within Tayside at an average of 1 hour and 48 minutes per day.
In total circa 245 minutes of flying time has been devoted to searches. Using the figures from the Home Office trial, published in the report by Dr. S O‟Donnell of the SRDB, (One square mile taking 12 minutes to search by air or 454 man hours on foot.). The 245 minutes of searching equates to 20.4 square miles searched. Had this been conducted on foot, the staffing cost required to do so would have been circa £178,079.
Of particular interest during the fifth week‟s activities were the two casualty evacuations carried out. On 2nd August the aircraft attended at Ninewells Hospital and uplifted a two person Trauma team before transiting to the scene of a serious road traffic accident on the A90, north of Forfar. The casualty was tended to at the locus by the Trauma team before being conveyed by the helicopter to Ninewells, a journey of ten minutes. This journey would have taken at least 30 minutes to complete by road ambulance with associated hazards to the patient and other road users.
On 4 August the aircraft was again called to a seriously ill casualty at Crombie Country Park, by Dundee. A young male had been pulled from the reservoir and was being resuscitated at the locus. The aircraft was being crewed by police officers and chief paramedic Ian Golding who was on a familiarisation visit and was in a position to transit directly to the locus. The male was rapidly conveyed to ambulance whilst being resuscitated in the aircraft. Again the journey time to hospital was drastically reduced to 10 minutes. Unfortunately the boy‟s condition was such that he died shortly after arrival at Ninewells.
In both cases the aircraft demonstrated that it has the flexibility to uplift specialist medical personnel at very short notice and convey them rapidly to remote locations. By conveying the casualties to hospital well within the „Golden Hour‟ the aircraft maximised the individuals‟ chances of survival.
The aircraft also continued to demonstrate its flexibility undertaking a wide range of other tasks, such as VIP Protection, Crime Scene Containment, Phototasks and Search and Rescue activities.
Operational Log
Thursday 29 July Duration of Task 1635 hours Location - Blairgowrie Section Photo tasks on behalf of 70 minutes Crime Management, Dundee.
1920 hours Location - Glen Esk. Search for missing person – 140 minutes DAVID ROSS McARTHUR, on behalf of Grampian 100 min search Police. Photo task on behalf of Emergency Planning, Eastern Division.
2205 hours Location - Perth. Report of vehicle failing to stop for 25 minutes Mobile Support. Vehicle stopped and 2 males ran off. 15 min search Area searched eliminated from enquiry.
Friday, 30 July
1745 hours Location - Scone, Perth. Report of Red BMW having 40 minutes collided with bollard and that driver was possibly under 30 min search the influence of alcohol. Information that vehicle was heading to Coupar Angus area. Area searched and vehicle traced on the Abernyte Road. Vehicle followed to its home address and Mobile Support Unit talked to locus. Negative Breath test. No further action.
1840 hours Photo tasks Crime Management, Dundee. 5 minutes
Saturday 31 July
1435 hours Location - Dundee. Photo and video task of Tannadice 15 minutes Park. Football crowd monitoring.
2000 hours Location - Auchterarder. Report of 3 males in a park in 40 minutes possession of a handgun. On arrival ground units traced 3 males, one in possession of an air pistol.
Report of a large fight in Dunkeld Road, Perth. 5 min search Commenced search and ground units confirmed it was a minor skirmish.
Photo tasks for Operational Planning.
Sunday, 1st August
1645 hours Location - Dundee. Photo task for Operational 50 minutes Planning.
Monday, 2nd August
1515 hours Location - Eastern Division. Missing Person search 70 minutes between Auchmithie and Arbroath following a possible 20 min search sighting - Negative.
Photo task of various areas for Operational Planning Department.
2045 hours Location - Dundee. Report of a Theft By 15minutes Housebreaking in Charleston and 2 males having ran off. Area searched, eliminated you from enquiry. 10 min search
2130 hours Requested to attend RTA in Forfar area and to convey 30 minutes Trauma Team from Ninewells Hospital. 1 seriously
injured male conveyed to Ninewells.
2250 hours Report of persons stealing Diesel in Longforgan. 45 minutes Attended and searched area – negative. 35 min search
Tuesday, 3rd August
1535 hours Requested by Fife Constabulary to search West Sands 40 minutes St. Andrews for a missing 4 year old boy. Missing 20 min search Person found by ground units.
Requested to attend Monikie following 3 males having made off from a Housebreaking. On arrival, males had been arrested by ground units.
Wednesday, 4 August (Paramedic Ian Golding forming part of crew for the day)
Requested by ambulance control to attend in Glen 1730 hours Clova following report of male having taken ill. 25 minutes Cancelled en-route. Matter in hand.
1806 hours Location - Crombie Country Park by Dundee. Attended 28 minutes report of male swimmer in difficulties in former reservoir. Paramedic conveyed to scene where casualty had been brought ashore. Casualty conveyed by aircraft to Ninewells Hospital- resuscitation carried out by paramedic and police crew en-route. Casualty subsequently died at Ninewells.
2005 hours Location - Kirkton, Dundee. Search for gold Vauxhall 15 minutes Carlton following recent sighting of vehicle being driven by known disqualified driver. Area searched and 10 min search eliminated.
2210 hours Aircraft reacted to report of 3 males having made off 5 minutes from a stolen motor cycle dumped at Omachie by Carnoustie. Prevented in reaching locus by low cloud and reduced visibility.
Requests Declined None
Downtime
Wednesday 4 August
0005 hours Aircraft offline for 55 minutes due to low mist and cloud severely reducing visibility below operational limits.
30/12/10
Tayside Police Air Support Unit
Report on operations between 5th August and 13th August 1999.
.
Summary
During the sixth and final week of operations the aircraft has flown on 27 occasions and has attended 38 incidents/tasks. During that time the aircraft has been airborne for 15 hours and 8 minutes. During this period a search was requested by Grampian Police in the Banchory area and aerial photography of a murder scene was undertaken in the Central Scotland Police area.
In total circa 184 minutes of flying time has been devoted to searches. Using the figures from the Home Office trial, published in the report by Dr. S O‟Donnell of the SRDB, (one square mile taking 12 minutes to search by air or 454 man hours on foot.) the 184 minutes of searching equates to 15.3 square miles searched. Had this been conducted on foot, the staffing cost required to do so would have been circa £132,075.
Of particular interest during the final period of operation was the involvement in the pursuit of a stolen Calibra motor car being driven at high-speed along the A90 towards Dundee. The vehicle was rapidly located by the aircraft‟s crew who were then able maintain observations and take over the commentary to the pursuing police vehicles. This allowed the following vehicles to drop back to a safer distance and reduce the risk to themselves and members of the public. The occupants of the stolen vehicle thereafter attempted to lose their pursuers before running off from the car into a tenement block. The aircraft‟s crew were able to contain the block until ground units arrived to locate and arrest the males concerned. Anecdotal evidence later received from the driver of the vehicle, a prolific car thief, indicates that the criminal fraternity are very concerned about the aircraft‟s ability to curtail their activities.
On Saturday, 7 August, the aircraft was requested to rapidly transport a trauma team from Ninewells Hospital, Dundee to the scene of a serious road accident near to Arbroath. This work, normally conducted by the mobile support department, was undertaken in a fraction of the time and at less hazard to the passengers and the general public. The aircraft was thereafter used to evacuate a seriously injured casualty to hospital, rapidly and again at lesser risk to life.
The aircraft was also involved in its second coastal search, this time in the Arbroath area, which was co-ordinated by the Maritime Coastguard Agency. The aircraft demonstrated its ability to search large areas rapidly and was able to assist in determining that the call was a false alarm with good intent. This not only saved police time but also that of the other rescue services.
After dark on Tuesday, 10 August the aircraft‟s crew whilst returning from a search for suspected housebreakers, observed a vehicle behaving strangely near to the Emmock Wood area, Dundee. The vehicle was monitored using the forward looking infra-red system until ground units could arrive on scene. Upon checking the driver of the vehicle out, the ground units discovered him to be disqualified from driving and his erratic driving was due to him being aware of the aircraft‟s presence.
Finally, on Wednesday, 11 August the aircraft was successfully able to contain a large area of forest for a male who had made off from a stolen motor cycle. This allowed sufficient time for the attendance of a dog handler and the subsequent arrest of the male concerned.
Document in F:\Committee Services\Police Board\Report Index\TJPB Report Index 1999.rtf Operational Log
Thursday 5 August Duration of Task 18:05 hours Location – Dens Road, Dundee. Search for person 5 minutes responsible for assaulting a female a short time 2 minutes search before. Search commenced at division‟s request, person responsible traced shortly afterwards by divisional officers.
21:50 hours Location – Lochearnhead. Search for missing 59- 45 minutes year-old male with diabetic condition. Such conducted 12 minutes search in deteriorating light, missing person found by member of the public suffering from disorientation due to his condition.
23:05 hours Location – Lawside Road, Dundee. Aircraft deployed 5 minutes to a report of a male intruder within house at locus. Intruder traced and arrested by divisional officers within.
Friday, 6 August 15:43 hours Photographic task undertaken for future planning 31 minutes concerning the Perth Agricultural Show.
19:47 hours Pursuit of stolen Red Calibra motor car travelling at 15 minutes high-speed eastwards A90 towards Dundee. Aircraft able to take over the commentary during the pursuit and allow traffic vehicles to drop back. Vehicle attempted to lose officers in the Charleston area of Dundee, prior to its occupants making off into nearby tenement housing. Observations kept by the aircraft until culprits arrested by ground units. Video footage made available for evidential purposes.
22:05 hours Location – Balgay Hill and Cemetery. Report of a 15 minutes stabbing in Lochee Park, group responsible made off 9 minutes search towards Victoria Hospital. Area around Balgay Hill searched and eliminated.
23:25 hours Location – Christian Road, Dundee. Vehicle failed to 5 minutes stop for NT63, aircraft launched but vehicle crashed and occupants arrested prior to arrival on scene.
Saturday 7 August
17:23 hours Location – Brunton Farm Cottages, NR Arbroath. 26 minutes Aircraft deployed following a call from ambulance control regarding a male badly injured on a road traffic accident and requiring the urgent attention of a trauma team. Team uplifted from Ninewells Hospital and delivered to the scene within 15 minutes of the request.
Casualty thereafter evacuated to Ninewells Hospital, Dundee.
18:57 hours Refuelling at RAF Leuchars. 11 minutes
20:20 hours Location – Balgay Park, Dundee. Attended to search 40 minutes for female reported to be in distress with two children 20 minutes search in the area. Search conducted with negative result.
Location – Lawhill, near Auchterarder. Search conducted for a red transit van seen leaving the scene of a housebreaking and heading for Perth. Area searched and eliminated.
Sunday, 8 August 14:55 hours Location – Caird Park, Dundee. Request from Central 40 minutes Division to search for two suspects responsible for 26 minutes search nearby housebreaking. Area searched along with H91 and eliminated.
Search conducted of the Broughty Ferry Coastline for missing 75-year-old thought to frequent that area. Area searched and eliminated.
16:35 hours Location – The Cliffs, Arbroath. Requested by 72 minutes Aberdeen Coastguard to search the cliff area for two youths reported to be in distress. Area searched with 42 minutes search the Arbroath Lifeboat and confirmed to be a false alarm with good intent.
Photographic reconnaissance - operational role.
Search near to Ancrum Road, Dundee for missing patient from Ninewells Hospital. Area searched with negative result.
Monday, 9 August 16:43 hours Photographic Reconnaissance - operational role. 98 minutes
Photographic task undertaken in Stirling of a murder scene at the request of Central Scotland Police.
Tuesday, 10 August 00:05 hours Location – Fyne Road, Broughty Ferry, Dundee. 35 minutes Requested to attend to search for two males who had 20 minutes search made off from the scene of a housebreaking into the cricket ground beside Forthill Road, Dundee. Area searched and eliminated for ground units.
Whilst returning from the above task, vehicle spotted in the Emmock Woods area carrying out various unusual manoeuvres. Divisional units directed to the
vehicle. Driver checked out and found to be disqualified from driving and having no insurance etc. Male arrested and conveyed to Police HQ.
15:50 hours Photographic and video reconnaissance - operational 90 minutes role.
Wednesday, 11 August 15:05 hours Requested by Grampian Police to attend at Banchory 85 minutes to search for a biker who had got lost in a wooded area. Aircraft cancelled whilst north of Forfar.
Photographic reconnaissance - operational role.
18:00 hours Photographic reconnaissance - operational role. 55 minutes
20:00 hours Check Flight 10 minutes
Thursday, 12 August 14:50 hours Location – Newbigging. Area searched for Black XR2 55 minutes vehicle suspected of being involved in a recent housebreaking to Cunmont Farm, near Newbigging. 22 minutes search Area searched with negative result.
Location – Kinoull Hill, Perth. Request to search for missing person thought to be suicidal and maybe willing to utilise Kinoull Hill. Area searched and eliminated.
17:45 hours Photographic reconnaissance - operational role. 60 minutes
20:05 hours Location – Emmock Road, Dundee. Search 75 minutes conducted for two males who had made off after 5 minutes search dumping a motor cycle. 1 male pursued into wooded area, containment enhanced by the air until male traced by dog section. 18 minutes search Location – Brechin. Suspected poachers made off towards Edzell after being disturbed. Area searched and eliminated. 10 minutes search Location – Kinnordy. Search conducted for missing person suffering from a mental condition. Tracks and field in the immediate area of Kinnordy searched and eliminated.
22:45 hours Location – Leng Street, Dundee, Search for male 15 minutes acting suspiciously in back gardens there. Dog 8 minutes search handler also conducted search by trail lost in Hill Street.
23:05 hours Location – Wetherby Place, Dundee. Male disturbed 5 minutes breaking into house at locus. Male pursued by
neighbours. Aircraft launched but male arrested prior to arrival on scene.
Friday, 13 August 11:35 hours Search for disqualified driver in the Ann Street area of 25 minutes Dundee. Negative result. 12 minutes search
Photographic reconnaissance - operational role.
14:00 hours Photographic reconnaissance - operational role. 15 minutes
14:55 hours Photographic reconnaissance. 15 minutes 15:15 hours Public relations - repositioning of aircraft to Caird 15 minutes Park, Dundee. Return to Dundee airport.
Requests Declined
None
Downtime
Tuesday, 10 August
21:30 hours Aircraft offline for 5.5 hours due to a generator fault.
30/12/10