Cleveland Air Operations Unit

Eurocopter EC-135 G-NESV of the Cleveland Police.

The Cleveland Air Operations Unit is the air support unit for the Cleveland Police force.

History

The Cleveland Air Operations Unit was formed on 1st April 2009.

Between 1995 and 2009 Cleveland Police was a participant in the North East Air Support Unit which was a joint venture with Durham and Northumbria police forces.

From the force's website, visitors can now find out what the helicopter has been doing over the past month with a brief description of the operation accompanied by a map http://www.cleveland.police.uk/news/helicopter-watch.aspx

Fleet

The Cleveland Air Operations Unit has one helicopter:

• 1 Eurocopter EC-135, registration G-NESV. They are based at Durham Tees Valley Airport. Its call sign is "India 55"

Use

[1]

The helicopter supports numerous areas of operational policing.

The aircraft is equipped with thermal imaging cameras for locating criminals and missing people.

The helicopter is also able to provide video footage, which is vital in directing officers and other emergency services during major incidents. This technology also enables the police to capture evidence effectively.

The helicopter may also be called on to transport people with life threatening injuries to hospital, when the Great North Air Ambulance is unavailable.

References

• Police Aviation in United Kingdom

External links