Police and handheld thermals

[HonestJohn]

In a past job I sold optical equipment to a business making kits for the police. NV/TI was simply a no-go money wise apparently.

My local fire department has one and the police regularly ask them to borrow it if they need to find someone, or something, hiding.

 

[maximus otter]

In a past job I sold optical equipment to a business making kits for the police. NV/TI was simply a no-go money wise apparently.

My local fire department has one and the police regularly ask them to borrow it if they need to find someone, or something, hiding.

ln my former career, my police force had one “night sight” which was kept by the Tactical Firearm Unit. lt was brought out and proudly displayed once per year for the HMI’s inspection, then returned to Stores.

I was tasked with a week’s deployment on night shifts at a “sensitive location”, and innocently asked if l could sign it out. The response?

- So l approached the MOD police. Their response was, effectively, “How many do you want?”



maximus otter

 

[gixer1]

Watching a documentary on the mass escape from the Jarlswood Immigration Removal Centre, and it struck me how much reliance was placed on the helicopter thermal camera to track the escapees in the immediate aftermath, and guide ground crews to the exact location of individuals. It raised the question in my mind as to why patrols aren't issued with basic thermal imagers these days? My Hikmicro, for example, can be had for under a thousand pounds these days, and it's more than capable of detecting a human within a few hundred yards. Surely even one unit as part of a patrol car's standard kit would be a worthwhile investment for forces for so many situations?

Wonder why it's not been implemented? In fact, I wonder if it's even been considered at all?

Really? They can barely afford to give them proper shoes and clothing now - never mind thermals!

 

[gixer1]

£20Bn shoestring … up nearly 7% on last year … employing 150,000 officers… sounds far from shoestring!

When you consider all the “try not to use hurty words” and “try not to let hurty words hurt you” training them have to do along with the DEI training….handing out dates etc. it adds up…

 

[@theroedeerguy]

Whilst thermal is handy, a police dog with the right handler, will out perform a handheld thermal tracking and catching humans everyday of the week.

As a former dog handler myself, my very first capture was a drunk driver who had been in a car crash, hiding under a riverbank and had managed to evade the helicopter and its thermal.

 

[countrryboy]

U'd think either NV and or a TI would be a no brainer esp for more rural based squad cars.

But hell even just buy them some decwnt torches.

I mind a story from a mate possibly 35 or 40 yrs ago, so u know all the lical polis.
Driving home after lamping, driving over the golfy, sees 2 polis cars parked up and mag lights dancing about the place.
He plugged his Nf Blitz 240 in and just lit up the place, were big lamps but by hell they fairly lit up the area.
Different league to the 170s most used and in those pre LED days u got a big spread of light too
They came over for a blether and said never seen anything like it.
Never caught the boy they were after but they had been bubbling about in the darks for ages he d be well gone.

Ideally they should have wotever they need wether Thermal or NV or both but at very least a decent spotlight or 2 would help massively for not a lot of money

 

[spanj]

I love the way that some people remember things. walking the beat (watching the baddy drive away), taking on the baddies with a stick (truncheon) when they have knives axes baseball bats or are mob handed..... Dixon of Dock Green was great, until you remember that it ended with him being shot.

yes you can quote the number of warranted officers and think thats a lot of cash, now add all of the un warranted admin staff, PCSO's CSI (SOCO) mechanics, cleaners, custody assistants, custody medical staff, vehicles, helicopter pilots, custody staff.... I believe that just the Met Police has more people than say the RAF! Money can be tight!

My view is from somebody older than 30 please tell me Im wrong when I say the police are overkitted. Have you seen them jumping out of a car to chase a teenager ……. I suspect not

 

[nic531]

My view is from somebody older than 30 please tell me Im wrong when I say the police are overkitted. Have you seen them jumping out of a car to chase a teenager ……. I suspect not

yes, often, and done it. did 17 years in two forces after my time in the army. yes they have lots of kit, but lots is held in the car

 

[spanj]

yes, often, and done it. did 17 years in two forces after my time in the army.

Hooray for you. Now the bit about being overkitted ?

 

[nic531]

Hooray for you. Now the bit about being overkitted ?

I started with truncheon and radio, although issued with a whistle for best uniform..... however having the other kit was really good when it was needed. didn't think the person I was scrapping with would let me get back to the car if I had left the kit in there. mostly I found that although the person was 20 years younger and wearing less kit, they had no stamina and gave up after a hundred yards as they were well out of breath.