Macro Photography and police helicopter

[christina]

I know what it was...police saw my camera on tripod and thought I was a terrorist with a gun lol

[John D]

Originally Posted by christina

Hi Christina,


John D

John

Have you ever watched a police helicopter searching for someone? The do not fly a direct path, turn, lower, hover over one garden, turn return lower then continue on their original flight path. I dislike your tone "Think of others rather than making such a fuss". Had you been here I am sure you would've have concurred with my attitude. This is not the first instance, had it been I would have thought nothing of it, but it happens often!

Hi Christina ,

Yes several times and yes they do fly exactly as you have said in certain circumstances, especially if 'heat sensing equipment' is in operation.
How can you judge that they were flying on a wrong course or didn't have reason to fly as they did ??

John D

[christina]

Hi John D

I guess having seen several copters flying same route, several times a day gives me a clue. I have seen them searching with heat sensor equipment at night and also heard them searching for someone/something at night, it's a completely different flight pattern. Please let me assure you that the only changed course when they turned, lowered height and hovered over garden. They then went, turned again coming lower and hovered. They then continued on their original path. We have just under an acre, no one was hiding in our garden. They were most definitely not searching for someone. I don't live on an estate, I don't live in a town, if I did, I would have thought nothing about it. But their behaviour was definitely suspicious. Behind our house is an open paddock, nowhere to hide, not even for the poor horses.

I rest my case me'lud John D (wasn't there a tv programme with a similar name)?

Dinner time

[Beekeeper]

Hi Christina again,

I almost suggested that you might walk around naked but thought better of it in case you would have been embarrased to admit it, but obviously not judging by your reply, it seems to me that this is why the copter was hovering over your garden.

Police do take their copters up for a run the same as we do with cars if they have been unused for a bit, there is also the possibility that it had just been serviced or repaired and the crew were testing all the functions to make sure it was working as it should be, either of these two things would give them an opportunity to drop into your garden in the hope of seeing rather more of you than they should, they are only human after all although sometimes i do wonder about that.

If this is what they were doing which of course they would never admit to, then you have a perfect right to make a complaint, it is a direct invasion of your privacy.

It wouldn't be the first time cops have been caught out doing something they shouldn't, they are not at all as squeeky clean as is often made out.

I do know that for a fact, the details of which i am not going to elaborate here but suffice to say rhey were caught out in a big way by six men on a red lorry.

Ian

[larachmor]

Originally Posted by christina

Hi John D

.......They were most definitely not searching for someone.....

You DO NOT KNOW that do you?
By all means have a whinge if your complaint is found to be justified. Until then, it's just that - a whinge!
Let us know when your complaint goes in

[christina]

Originally Posted by larachmor

You DO NOT KNOW that do you?
By all means have a whinge if your complaint is found to be justified. Until then, it's just that - a whinge!
Let us know when your complaint goes in

OK Larachmor, they were searching for someone in my garden, perhaps the perpetrator was hiding up my jumper, or in my camera. These people are not members of the Cairngorms helicopter rescue team, they are coppers in Bedfordshire, with an almost flat landscape with the exception of one or two mole hills. I reiterate larachmor, that I have observed, on many occasions, the police searching for someone, so I would be obliged if you would not call me a liar nor a whinger! I invite you down to our home to take a look at the landscape, the position of the garden and, perhaps you could stay a few days and observe for yourself the police copter route or even stay one month because I guarantee you, within the month, this kind of incident will happen again as it has done on many occasions in the past!

Ian, I concur with everything you have said and know personally one naughty little bully copper who shot my cat by his own admission, not all are good copper, unfortunately!

Christina

[Jason Green]

Afternoon Christina,

I'm not too sure why this is becoming a debate; if you wish to complain, then do. I however agree with others though, that it may not stand-up to the IPCC. The helicopter goes overhead with you bent-dwn by a bush. The helicopter comes back round - and you get-up and start gesticulating, and telling it to go away. They then come down a bit lower - I could see why they may wish to have a second look! They planned to pass overhead not having seen you. You get-up and suddenly appear so they stop to have a look. You begin gesticulating and mouthing something so they come in lower in case you are either the person they are looking for or telling them where they are. I don't think anything untoward went on.

No, it's never happened to me - but then, I've never told an aircraft to go away either.

If they were looking for someone a few of miles ahead from your house (maybe to join a car pursuit on a motorway), then as they pass over they wouldn't already be acting as if they were on the look-out - they'd just have a straight flightpath en-route. Then, you effectively appear from a bush - so they come back a bit and then you start waving and telling them to go away. They then hover to see if you are who they are looking for. They decide you aren't so they leave the area and resume the original flightpath. Sounds plausible to me.

Rather than calling in the IPCC this time, you may get a better response with a quick call to the Air Support Unit itself - just enquire as to what they were working on that day. Could be a test-flight, a suspicious person or even illegal shooting. A spot on the horizon, such as a house, could therefor be worth a look.

Take care,

Jason

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Jason Green

Afternoon Christina,

I'm not too sure why this is becoming a debate; if you wish to complain, then do. I however agree with others though, that it may not stand-up to the IPCC. The helicopter goes overhead with you bent-dwn by a bush. The helicopter comes back round - and you get-up and start gesticulating, and telling it to go away. They then come down a bit lower - I could see why they may wish to have a second look! They planned to pass overhead not having seen you. You get-up and suddenly appear so they stop to have a look. You begin gesticulating and mouthing something so they come in lower in case you are either the person they are looking for or telling them where they are. I don't think anything untoward went on.

No, it's never happened to me - but then, I've never told an aircraft to go away either.

If they were looking for someone a few of miles ahead from your house (maybe to join a car pursuit on a motorway), then as they pass over they wouldn't already be acting as if they were on the look-out - they'd just have a straight flightpath en-route. Then, you effectively appear from a bush - so they come back a bit and then you start waving and telling them to go away. They then hover to see if you are who they are looking for. They decide you aren't so they leave the area and resume the original flightpath. Sounds plausible to me.

Rather than calling in the IPCC this time, you may get a better response with a quick call to the Air Support Unit itself - just enquire as to what they were working on that day. Could be a test-flight, a suspicious person or even illegal shooting. A spot on the horizon, such as a house, could therefor be worth a look.

Take care,

Jason

jason - you should be a moderator - no seriously

without wishing to become involved in the debate on rights anmd wrongs - christina if you want to complain you should do so in the first instance to the head of professional standards at the police force in question ( I presume bedfordshire) Bedfordshire police - how to make a complaint

I wouldnt worry about not having the helis numbers as they dont have very many and will have a record of where each one was at any given time.

you dont usually take complaints on relatively minor issues to the IPCC without giving the force in question a chance to resolve it first IPCC how to make a complaint

[christina]

Jason Green

I quote your words here

"...The helicopter goes overhead with you bent-dwn by a bush. The helicopter comes back round - and you get-up and start gesticulating, and telling it to go away". "...You get-up and suddenly appear so they stop to have a look...."

I was not bent-down by a bush. I was sitting in front of an 10-14 inch high, 7-9 inch wide (probably an exaggeration) lavender bush.

I did not get-up and start gesticulating.

I did not suddenly appear. I was sitting by that small lavender bush. If you are going to criticise someone then please get the fact right.

"...Then, you effectively appear from a bush...".

I did not "effectively appear from a bush" I was sitting in front of said small lavender bush (ok its a plant!).

Would you like photos of the garden, the lavender bush in question and the helicopter? This might help you build a better picture?

I would advise you never to be a witness for anyone, you took my words, built a scenario in your mind and came up with something completely different.

I have told the police to go away on several occasions because they have done this on more than one occasion, at least once a month!

[FungiJohn]

Hi Christina

I think it is very clear that you have an issue with your local police, especially with regards to them flying overhead.

I also think that the responses to your thread have, in the main been positive and helpful. My advice to you is exactly the same as suggested in a previous post(s) ... ’Complain if you wish’!

Rather than let this thread get out of hand I shall now close it.

John