The Start of Police Air Support
Durham County Constabulary Brantly, November 1962.
In The Beginning.....
1921 Metropolitan Police use the R33 airship at Epsom Derby
Berkshire Constabulary use R36 at Royal Ascot
1923 the Metropolitan police undertake traffic duty over the Derby at Epsom using a loaned RAF wireless carrying Bristol F.2B Fighter
18th June 1932, The Leicester police undertook the first known air chase and arrest of burglars when a Moth bi-plane was quickly loaned to police by a local club operating near Hinckley.
In 1932, Metropolitan police test an early Cierva autogyro at the Epsom Derby. The autogyro was so successful that they continued in use at the Derby races from 1932 until 1938.
1935 Reigate Borough police, on the South Coast of England set up its own Air Support Unit. This was achieved by appointing 12 pilots from a local flying club as special constables. The section continued until the outbreak of war in 1939.
1938 Lancashire Constabulary undertook air cover for a Royal tour of the county using a Moth bi-plane.
1946 Lancashire Constabulary using a Royal Navy Auster undertook the first two known police operations after the war when they policed the Grand National at Aintree, near Liverpool. In 1949 a civil Miles Gemini twin engined aircraft was used.
1956 and 1957 Northamptonshire Constabulary used a Hornet Moth for traffic duties at the Silverstone motor race meetings.
1956 Two types of helicopter, the Westland S-55, a Sikorsky design, manufactured under licence in England, and the Bristol type 171, on trial with the Civil Defence organisation were loaned out to a number of police forces.
1957 to 1960 In the London area, the Metropolitan Police started trials with light aircraft. 3 Austers undertook Bank Holiday traffic flights.
1962 Durham Constabulary establish first police helicopter support unit in November using a Brantly B2 which operated until mid-1964.
1963 Oxford City police also used a Brantly in experiments carrying dogs in special panniers.
1964 Home Office experiment involving the use of a Bell 47J in support of the Cheshire, Lancashire and Staffordshire police on motorway patrol.
1966 - 1969 Ministry of Defence flew a succession of scheduled trial support operations. These involved the police of Devon and Cornwall, Dorset, Dyfed-Powys, Essex, Gloucestershire, Gwent, Hampshire, Kent, Metropolitan, Oxford, Staffordshire, Surrey, Sussex, West Mercia, West Midlands and Wiltshire, and in Scotland the Grampian, Northern and Tayside forces.
Some forces such as the Lancashire and Berkshire Constabulary's hired civil helicopters about this time for special events.
Between 1967 and 1970, the Thames Valley force evaluated the use of a hired helicopter based at Oxford airport.
1970's - Metropolitan police see the need for air support and they obtained permission from the Civil Aviation Authority to operate single engine helicopters over London. A variety of types were employed, including the Bell 47, Enstrom F-28, Hughes 500, the Gazelle and the Jetranger. These helicopters were already established in a police role in the United States, especially the Jetranger which was regarded as the 'Coppers Chopper'.
1979 Hampshire Constabulary began using Cessna aircraft since. By 1984, their air unit, although still part time was flying 100 - 200 hours per year.
1979 Devon and Cornwall Constabulary hire a helicopter for 6 long weekends at the height of the summer holiday season. This was followed in 1980 with 6 weeks continual hire during the same calendar period. On both occasions the aircraft was flown for about 2 hours a day. In 1981 a full time operation was inaugurated, again flying for an average of two hours per day.
1980 Civil Aviation Authority withdraw its easements and the Metropolitan police were obliged to look for a suitable twin. The Aerospatiale Dauphin, Augusta 109, and Bolkow BO105 were considered, but the Bell 222 was decided to be most suitable, on the grounds of economy.
1980 Metropolitan Police ordered two Bell 222's The second "Tripple 2" arrived on 1st June 1981. Two years later, a third 222, re-registered G-METC was purchased second hand.
In 1984, Devon and Cornwall decided to purchase a single turbine engine helicopter, an Aerospatiale "Squirrel". In October 1986, the Squirrel was replaced by a German twin turbine engined MBB-Bolkow B0105. In 1998, the service upgraded to a MBB BK117.
1985 The Optica a single engine, fixed wing but with a cabin resembling a helicopter, made its appearance and Hampshire Constabulary spent some time evaluating the aircraft. It was decided that the plane had a lot to offer and a formal 4 month trial was arranged and carried out utilising 200 flying hours with a study carried out by the Home Office.
Tragically, on its inaugural operational flight, the Optica aircraft crashed killing the 2 police officer crew. After this accident the trial was abandoned and the original company which had pioneered the aircraft went into liquidation.
In June 1987 a new trial was agreed and commenced. Such was the success of the trial from the Hampshire point of view that the force decided to purchase an aircraft.
Prior to 1985, Wiltshire Constabulary relied upon the military for ad-hoc aviation support where life was in danger or where by informal arrangement, military helicopters were made available to assist with special police operations.
In 1985 Wiltshire operated a police helicopter for 6 weeks over the Summer Solstice period. The whole operation lasted for 36 days commencing 29th May 1985. A total of 72 hours 30 minutes flying time was used.
The following year, the operation was repeated, this time with a "Squirrel" single turbine engine helicopter with a similar capacity but more suitable seating arrangement in the cabin. 1986 saw the manifestation of the "Peace Convoy".
In 1987 the operation ran again this time using a Westland Gazelle single turbine helicopter. As well as an increasing use of Police aviation for casevac and medivac there was nationally a growing interest in the use of the helicopter to combat crime. There is no doubt that air support played a major role in the containment of Michael Ryan at Hungerford in August 1987. It was only from the helicopter that current and accurate situation reports were being received. At the same time the crew of the helicopter were able to warn members of the public through the public address system fitted to the helicopter to stay clear of the area. Once the firearms teams started to move forward, the helicopter crew were in position to inform them of any problems or potential danger areas.
22nd December 1987 A small ceremony marked the handing over of the brand new Optica aircraft to Hampshire Constabulary and the commencement of a full time operation.
In late 1988, the Merseyside police first hired a helicopter for a trial period to combat a spate of serious crimes in the region when high-powered stolen cars were driven recklessly to provoke police chases. Following successful trials and, with the support of the Police Authority, the helicopter was purchased for the Force.
In January 1990, disaster struck British police aviation again. A single engined Bell Jet Ranger helicopter being operated for Strathclyde police by a commercial firm while their twin engined helicopter was being serviced, was flying in blizzard conditions when it crashed into a block of pensioners' flats in Glasgow.
1991, Hampshire Constabulary exchange the Optica for a twin engine fixed wing Britten Norman Islander.
By 1991, the following British forces had use of an Aerospatiale 'Squirrel' twin turbine engine helicopter:
In 1992, the Home Office evaluated the use of an airship over Merseyside to monitor crowds visiting the Tall Ships race. Approximately 2 million people attended the 7 day event. After that, airships have been used for the annual political party conferences, because of the advantages they offer over helicopters and fixed wing aircraft, but as well as, not instead of traditional air support.
In September 1998, the Central Counties Air Operations Unit accepted delivery of the first EC135 in the UK, and in December, the Wiltshire Police took delivery of the first McDonnell Douglas Boeing 902 Explorer.
The 21st Century will see further examples of both types will be delivered to police forces in Great Britain. Both these are the first of the 'new generation' of quiet technology helicopters.
A further detailed Word Document covering the full history of UK Air Support can be downloaded HERE