The future of Cambridgeshire Constabulary’s helicopter is under consideration as part of plans to create a National Police Air Service by April 2012. A final decision has not yet been made by the national project team but the proposal is to merge helicopter operations across England and Wales. It is estimated the scheme will save around £15million nationally. The air operations unit provides a vital service to the force and it is crucial that we have air support in the future. However at this time it is uncertain as to what the structure of that support will be and where it will come from. In these challenging times we need to look at all areas of business to establish the most efficient way of delivering that service and difficult decisions will have to be made.

Since 1997 Cambridgeshire Constabulary has been able to take to the skies to tackle crime and save lives.

The force currently operates an MD902 helicopter, fitted with state of the art technology.

It can reach speeds of up to 161 miles per hour, or 140 knots and houses a 30million candle power ‘nitesun’ which is used to help guide officers on the ground to locations and to illuminate areas for officer safety at night.

There is also a downlink from the aircraft so officers in a command centre can see exactly what the crew in the aircraft are looking at through a powerful camera.

It is a true multi-role aircraft, carrying up to eight people, which can be quickly re-rolled to air ambulance, people carrier or freighter in times of emergency.

What does the helicopter do?

The helicopter is used day-in, day-out. It is scrambled to provide crucial help in a variety of situations:

• To search for missing people


• To pursue an individual or group of people believed to have committed a crime


• To monitor or film an event or incident from the air


• To guide police officers on the ground to a hard to reach location


• To guide police officers on the ground to someone who is hiding from view


• To take photographs for research purposes when preparing to execute a warrant


• To provide intelligence in reducing crime and terrorism

The helicopter enables officers to search areas of the county that would otherwise not be easily accessible.

Working in partnership

Cambridgeshire Constabulary is part of Eastern Counties Police Maintenance (ECPM) – a consortium with Suffolk and Essex police forces. Being part of a consortium where maintenance is carried out in-house, means that the cost of servicing of the helicopter is reduced.

Also based at RAF Wyton are Magpas paramedics. The relationship between the Air Operations Unit and Magpas began in 1997 when the force acquired their first helicopter.

Magpas recognises that transporting critically ill patients by air has great benefits but also is an environment that inherently poses challenges and risks to patient care. All Magpas clinical teams are highly trained and experienced in meeting patients’ critical care needs under these conditions.