On Thursday 15th November, UK held its first ever Police chief elections and 41 new “Police and Crime Commissioners” have been elected across England and Wales in an attempt to give the public a say in cutting crime in their area.

In the far southwest of England lies the counties of Devon and Cornwall, which come together as a single police area.  The successful candidate was Tony Hogg, previously Commanding Officer for Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose.

The new National Police Air Service (NPAS) which was launched in the UK on 1st October pledges a response time of 20 minutes for 98% of the population.  The NPAS plans see the Devon and Cornwall Police Eurocopter EC145 continuing to be based at Exeter, sufficient to serve that city and the other major city of Plymouth within the required time.  However, due to its rural nature, two thirds of Cornwall falls outside the 20 minute zone, and Mr Hogg’s military background led him to make the following proposal in an open letter to NPAS Flight Operations Director Ollie Dismore:-

Notwithstanding the faster flying speeds of the police helicopter, I would like to propose a formal agreement between NPAS and RNAS Culdrose for Culdrose to augment and back up rapid response policing cover where needed in addition to their well publicised Search and Rescue tasking from the maritime rescue co-ordination centres. I know from my naval experience that Culdrose have already been involved in support of the police on isolated occasions. As a result Devon and Cornwall could truthfully say that 98% of their population are supported by a rapid response helicopter rescue and policing service.

NPAS is being implemented over two and a quarter years – from launch on October 1st, it is is due to be fully implemented on 1st January 2015. It is expected to arrive in Devon and Cornwall in July 2013.

Since leaving the Navy, Tony Hogg has spent seven years as a Board Advisor to AgustaWestland, assisting in the delivery of £1.5billion of projects and liaising as a company ‘ambassador’ with the MOD.

Jeremy Parkin – HeliHub.com