Police helicopter search locates man threatening to harm himself in West Watford

9:05am Tuesday 29th January 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Mike Wright, Chief Reporter

A police helicopter took to the skies over West Watford in the early hours of the morning after officers launched a search for a man reportedly threatening to harm himself.

Hertfordshire Constabulary were called at around 5.30am to by the ex-partner of the man, who raised concerns for his safety.

He was later located by officers at the junction of Hadgen Lane and Tolpits Lane.

The police said the man, who is in his 20s, was later taken home.

Comments(6)

MarsLander says...
10:20am Tue 29 Jan 13

Is this appropriate use of a very expensive resource?

If he was taken home then it seems the whole thing may have been a bit heavy-handed and expensive.

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pr76uk says...
10:37am Tue 29 Jan 13

Yes, it is. Everyone needs help sometimes and using a helicopter is far quicker than sending lots of officers out in the dark on a manhunt.

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Uneek says...
2:39pm Tue 29 Jan 13

Hindsight is a wonderful thing

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MarsLander says...
6:57pm Tue 29 Jan 13

pr76uk wrote:
Yes, it is. Everyone needs help sometimes and using a helicopter is far quicker than sending lots of officers out in the dark on a manhunt.
who found him, ground or airborne police?

How do you work out sending out a helicopter in Watford is far quicker than ground police in cars? Surely that is just a sweeping statement based on....what?

There's a police station in Watford and patrols already on the streets. I haven't noticed a helipad locally and doubt there's one in Watford for the police helicopter.

What was the cost of the helicopter for this mission, just so we know?

If no-one asks questions we will never know if the cost justifies the means.

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pr76uk says...
7:56pm Tue 29 Jan 13

The Hertfordshire Police helicopter X-Ray Alpha (based at Luton, 10 minute's flying time away) and its crew has to be paid for whether it's used or not. So it's only the cost of the fuel.

So if it saves on ground manpower (who can get on with dealing with other matters).

A helicopter can scan an area for heat sources more quickly than people scrabbling around in the dark - a square mile in 15 minutes in fact.

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garston tony says...
11:59am Wed 30 Jan 13

When the police are trying to find crooks who are on foot the helicopter is an invaluable tool. Stands to reason it would be an equally valuable tool when searching for someone who is vulnerable.

What price ultimately someones life anyway?

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