The North Midlands Helicopter Support Unit is based at Derbyshire Constabulary headquarters in Ripley.
The helicopter is jointly owned by Derbyshire Constabulary and Nottinghamshire Police. It carries out vital work, helping officers on the ground to search for suspects, locate missing people and track stolen vehicles.
We want you to know what we are doing when the helicopter is deployed in Derbyshire and how we are helping to keep you and the community safe.
North Midlands Helicopter Support Unit Daily Task Sheet
These logs show you examples of what the helicopter has been involved in during the last few weeks.
Week commencing 30/04/12
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Date
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Area
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Summary
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Remarks
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06/05/2012
|
Ashbourne
|
Suspect Search
|
Search for a person seen in a commercial compound stealing items.
|
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06/05/2012
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South Normanton
|
Suspect Search
|
Search for people who ran off from the scene of a collision.
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05/05/2012
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Spondon
|
Suspect Search
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Search for a wanted person seen in the Spondon area.
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05/05/2005
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Somercotes
|
Suspect Search
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Search for a person seen in a commercial compound stealing items.
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|
05/05/2012
|
Sandiacre
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Missing Person Search
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Search for an eight-year-old girl reported missing by her mother.
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03/05/2012
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Spondon
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Suspect Search
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Search for a wanted man.
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03/05/2012
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Spondon
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Suspect Search
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Search for a man wanted by police, who was living rough.
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|
02/05/2012
|
Ashbourne
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Missing Person Search
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Search for a vulnerable missing woman.
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Week commencing 23/04/12
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Date
|
Area
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Summary
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Remarks
|
|
28/04/2012
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Ripley
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Search for vehicle
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Search for a vehicle being driven dangerously.
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|
29/04/2012
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South Normanton
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Suspect Search
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Search for a man who had made off from a road traffic collision.
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Week commencing 16/04/12
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Date
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Area
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Summary
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Remarks
|
|
22/04/2012
|
Langwith
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Search for vehicle
|
Search for off-road motorcyclist causing disorder.
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|
22/04/2012
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Ilkeston
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Suspect Search
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Search for a man who was wanted for disorder.
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|
22/04/2012
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Pleasley
|
Missing Person Search
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Search for someone who had collapsed.
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|
20/04/2012
|
Mackworth
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Suspect Search
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Search for a man wanted for assault.
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20/04/2012
|
Chellaston
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Incident Investigation
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Search for a woman who was believed to be ill and had gone into fields.
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|
20/04/2012
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Chesterfield
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Suspect Search
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Search for a man believed to be breaking into garden sheds.
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|
20/04/2012
|
Long Eaton
|
Search for vehicle
|
Search for a vehicle involved in a commercial burglary.
|
|
18/04/2012
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Chesterfield
|
Suspect Search
|
Search for a man who ran from a vehicle when stopped by the police.
|
|
18/04/2012
|
Chesterfield
|
Suspect Search
|
Search for people thought to be breaking into industrial premises.
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|
16/04/2012
|
Bradwell
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Other
|
Search for a crashed paraglider.
|
Week commencng 09/04/12
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Date
|
Area
|
Summary
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Remarks
|
|
12/04/2012
|
Swadlincote
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Suspect Search
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Search of open ground for offenders who had attempted to steal from a van.
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|
12/04/2012
|
Ripley
|
Suspect Search
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Theft of diesel at an industrial compound. Helicopter helped to find a suspect.
|
|
12/04/2012
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Spondon
|
Suspect Search
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Assisted officers with a search after a man ran off in suspicious circumstances.
|
|
13/04/2012
|
Tibshelf
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Suspect Search
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Helicopter searched open fields for offenders from a commercial burglary.
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|
14/04/2012
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Grassmoor
|
Suspect Search
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Search of golf course and open ground after offenders seen on scrap yard site.
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|
15/04/2012
|
Heanor
|
Suspect Search
|
Two men found stealing cable at the old American Adventure site.
|
|
15/04/2012
|
Dronfield
|
Suspect Search
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Helicopter landed to detain suspects who had broken into a container.
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Week commencing 04/04/12
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Date
|
Area
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Summary
|
Remarks
|
|
01/04/2012
|
Ripley
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Search for vehicle
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Search for a recently sighted car thought to contain a firearm.
|
|
02/04/2012
|
Heanor
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Suspect Search
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Search for a suspect involved in a racially aggravated assault.
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|
03/04/2012
|
Derby
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Suspect Search
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Search for a car that failed to stop for a marked police vehicle.
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04/04/2015
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Peak District
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Other
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Search minor roads for motorists that may have been stranded in the snow.
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04/04/2012
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Ashbourne
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Missing Person Search
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Search near the river for a vulnerable missing person.
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|
05/04/2012
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Grassmoor
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Suspect Search
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Search for a wanted person.
|
|
06/04/2012
|
Findern
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Suspect Search
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Search for a vehicle whose occupants were suspected of stealing fuel from parked lorries.
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|
06/04/2012
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Thornhill
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Suspect Search
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Search for three men seen to be carrying firearms.
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|
07/04/2012
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A38 - Burton
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Search for vehicle
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Search for a vehicle where the driver was wanted in connection with a high-value theft.
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|
07/04/2012
|
Derby
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Search for vehicle
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Search for a suspect in relation to a sexual offence.
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|
07/04/2012
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Chesterfield
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Suspect Search
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Search for two suspects in relation to a robbery at a convenience store.
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|
08/04/2012
|
Heanor
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Incident Investigation
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Video of the scene of road traffic collision.
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08/04/2012
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Somercotes
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Suspect Search
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Search for two men seen in a secure compound at a commercial premises.
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08/04/2012
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Chesterfield
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Incident Investigation
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Provide aerial cover while officers investigated a firearms incident.
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Week commencing 26/03/12
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Date
|
Area
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Summary
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Remarks
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30/03/2012
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Langley Mill
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Suspect Search
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Search the canal side for youths on a stolen motorcycle.
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31/03/2012
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Old Whittington
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Suspect Search
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Search for two men who stole a motorbike and were seen taking it away.
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31/03/2012
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Chapel en le Frith
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Missing Person Search
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Search for an elderly man with who had gone missing from home.
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01/04/2012
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Pleasley
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Incident Planning
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Photos and video of a possible crime scene.
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Week commencing 12/03/12
|
Date
|
Area
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Summary
|
Remarks
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13/03/2012
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Eckington
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Missing Person Search
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Search for a vulnerable youngster.
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|
13/03/2012
|
Buxton
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Missing Person Search
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Search of several locations for a missing person who may have been camping rough.
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14/03/2012
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Sandiacre
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Other
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Assisted officers when a wanted man was located in a boat on the canal.
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15/03/2012
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Langley Mill
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Suspect Search
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Search for a man who made off after causing damage.
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15/03/2012
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Chellaston
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Suspect Search
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Search of gardens after a man was seen climbing on a house.
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15/03/2012
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Killamarsh
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Suspect Search
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Carried out a search after a suspicious man made off having forced entry into a house.
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16/03/2012
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Staveley
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Suspect Search
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Check of the Trans Pennine Trail for a nuisance/stolen moped.
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16/03/2012
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Ripley
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Missing Person Search
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Area search for a man when concern was raised for his welfare.
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16/03/2012
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Bolsover
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Missing Person Search
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Search of allotments and fields for a man when there was concern for his welfare.
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|
16/03/2012
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Drakelow
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Suspect Search
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Search of the old power station site for intruders.
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17/03/2012
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Ashbourne
|
Suspect Search
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Check of gardens after a report of a burglary.
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Week commencing 05/03/12
|
Date
|
Area
|
Summary
|
Remarks
|
|
05/03/2012
|
Tibshelf
|
Search for vehicle
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Search for a stolen vehicle.
|
|
06/03/2012
|
Carsington
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Missing Person Search
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Search for missing person indicating that they may harm themselves.
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|
08/03/2012
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M1 J27
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Search for vehicle
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Search for stolen vehicle travelling south on M1 from J27.
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08/03/2012
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Long Eaton
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Suspect Search
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Search for person wanted for numerous crimes.
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09/03/2012
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Staveley
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Search for vehicle
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Search for a stolen motorcycle.
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10/03/2012
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Stanton by Dale
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Search for vehicle
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Off-road motorcycles causing damage to land. Search for motorcycles.
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11/03/2012
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Derby
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Missing Person Search
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Search for person possibly fallen into river.
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11/03/2012
|
Derby
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Missing Person Search
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Search for person possibly fallen into river.
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11/03/2012
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Bolsover
|
Suspect Search
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Search for people involved in the theft of metal.
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11/03/2012
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Beeley
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Missing Person Search
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Search for walker taken ill.
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|
11/03/2012
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Stanton in the Peak
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Incident Investigation
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Report of explosion at nearby quarry. Search for cause. False alarm, good intent.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What type of helicopter does the force use?
The unit operates a Eurocopter EC135T2 helicopter. It was built in Germany and has twin Turbomeca Arrius engines. It was bought new and commenced operations in April 2004. It replaced the second-hand helicopter the unit started with in 1998. That helicopter was also a Eurocopter helicopter, an AS355N, commonly known as the 'squirrel'.
2. Is the helicopter owned or leased?
The helicopter is owned jointly by Derbyshire Constabulary and Nottinghamshire Police. The two forces formed a consortium in 1998 to buy and operate a helicopter for the two counties. The decision to own rather than lease was due to the encouragement by the Home Office to police forces to establish air support. There was an inducement to apply for capital grant towards the acquisition of an aircraft and the construction of an operating base.
3. How much did the helicopter cost and is it expensive to fly?
The current helicopter fully equipped with the latest technology, cost just over £3 million. The Home Office provided £1.44 million in grant and the old helicopter was sold to an operator in Italy for £0.5 million so the final cost to each force was approximately £600,000. The current (October 2008) cost to run the aircraft is £540 per hour. This is calculated on the amount of fuel, maintenance, and insurance on parts. Although this sounds expensive, the results show it is value for money.
4. Are the pilots police officers?
No, the pilots are contracted from a company. We have three permanent pilots and use relief pilots from the contractors to cover for leave and any sickness. The three pilots are all ex-military and have thousands of hours of operational flying experience. The crew consists of a pilot and two police air observers. The front observer's main job is to use the camera systems. The rear observer navigates and commands the incident from the air.
5. Who else can fly in the police helicopter?
Police helicopters in the UK operate under a Police Air Operators Certificate (PAOC) issued by the CAA. The certificate allows easements such as being able to fly lower than other aircraft, allowed to drop articles and permitted to carry firearms and ammunition. The certificate though, does have restrictions. Not being a commercial certificate, we cannot generate income from hiring out the aircraft and we are restricted to carrying 'CAA approved passengers'. Approved passengers are basically police officers and police staff in connection with their jobs. We can also carry casualties, medics and other emergency service personnel but only in connection with a specific emergency that they are dealing with.
6. Is the force helicopter also an air ambulance?
There is an air ambulance that operates out of East Midlands Airport covering Derbyshire. It is sometimes unavailable and the police helicopter receives requests to airlift a casualty from an incident or accident. As it is not an air ambulance when airlifting a casualty to transfer to hospital, a doctor or paramedic will accompany the patient. The helicopter has a specially designed stretcher that can be secured in the aircraft. The crews are trained in the use of a defibrillator, which is also kept on board. During the first ten years of operations, there have been 75 casualties air lifted in the police helicopter. Several would not be alive today had the aircraft not been available.
7. Why is the helicopter based at Ripley?
As the aircraft is supporting the two police forces of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire it was important to be located at a base central to the two counties. Ripley is right in the middle of the two county region. It is also within five minutes flying time of the two busiest places, which are the city areas of Nottingham and Derby. The aircraft flies around 150 mph. The longest transit is Glossop, which takes the helicopter 16 minutes to reach.
8. What type of work does the helicopter do?
The helicopter is part of Operations Division and its purpose is to support operational officers on the ground. It assists in searching for suspects, stolen and suspect vehicles and finding vulnerable missing people. The aircraft is used at major incidents where live video can be broadcast back to the operations room or to a portable receiver. Evidential and planning aerial photographs are regularly requested from police officers.
9. Can the helicopter fly in all types of weather?
Under the PAOC there are weather minima that we have to abide by for safety reasons. This is about the height of the cloud base and the distance we can see. Night limitations are stricter than day and flying over congested areas is different to open countryside. By day we must be able to see 1,500 metres horizontally, with a cloud base of at least 300' in open areas. In a congested area the cloud base has to be a minimum of 350' above the highest building, with the aircraft over 300' above the ground and 200' above a building. At night the visibility is increased to 5 kms with a cloud base of 500' in open areas and 600' in congested areas and in the urban places we need to be at least 500' above buildings.
10. How often does the helicopter get serviced and who maintains it?
There are very strict rules regarding the maintenance of an aircraft. The pilot performs a daily check of the helicopter, which includes mechanical serviceability, fluid checks, electrical systems and aircraft structure. The engines are also rinsed weekly with distilled water to combat corrosion. A CAA approved helicopter maintenance company is contracted to maintain the helicopter. This is currently Eurocopter UK Limited. An engineer is assigned to our aircraft and makes two scheduled visits per week to check over the helicopter and at other times to carry out unscheduled maintenance. The aircraft has a major inspection every 400 hours and an annual inspection. These are carried out at Eurocopter UK's main base at Oxford Airport. Each major component has a 'shelf life' and is replaced when its time is up.