Aviation Security
Flight would not be without it’s furry mascots! This is
Luna, a 1 and a half year old chihuahua who belongs to Flt
Cdr ASF, Fg Off Adams. Luna absolutely loves all the
attention she gets on ASF and coming in to see her other dog
colleagues.
Cpl
Kavanar Hibberd has been employed on the Aviation Security Flt
at RAF Brize Norton for around 2 years now. He’s been deployed
on some amazing tasks to places such as America with the
Spanish Air Force, where he used his bilingual language
talents to translate for the Spanish crew! Downroute, he is an
experienced Team Leader whose job is to coordinate and provide
Aviation Security Support to Air Mobility Force operations.
One of the AC he protects downroute is the A400M Atlaspictured here.
It has a 340 cubic metre hold which can carry a NH-90 Transport Helicopter, a CH-47 Chinook or a container lorry/2x infantry vehicles. In emergencies it has room
for 125 stretchers plus an Intensive Care Unit. It can hold 116 soldiers or fully equipped paratroopers. Did you know the A400M Atlas can hold 7 tonnes of
freight? This is equivalent to around 5 elephants!
Aviation Security Flight based at RAF Brize Norton provide aviation security support for global Air Mobility Force operations. All our RAF Police personnel travel in a COVID secure manner, therefore there is a lot of preparation that goes on behind the scenes before deploying. Team Leaders like Cpl Bates (pictured) have to ensure that they’re fully cognisant of what’s happening and at what times during the task. This means they have to liaise with Flight Planners, the Brize Norton Air Terminal, Aircraft Captains and Movements personnel in order to get a good idea of what they need to do and when. Additionally, they have to communicate and educate their team to make sure the task runs smoothly. All of this planning then gets checked by their Sergeant before they deploy. When on task, all this prior planning makes life a lot easier and means the necessary security is provided to deliver the task.
19/1/21
Among the first to receive a Covid
vaccination in Newark were ex-veterans Tony Parker,
aged 81, and his wife Beryl Parker, aged 82(Image:
Nottingham NHS CCG)
There are now 11 confirmed
Covid-19 vaccination hubs across Nottinghamshire as the
NHS rollout of jabs continues.
The latest local vaccination
service opened on Saturday, January 16, at Newark
Showground as part of the roll-out of the Covid-19
national vaccination programme.
Among the first to receive a
vaccination at the new site were ex-veterans Tony
Parker, aged 81, and his wife Beryl Parker, aged 82, who
both live in Newark.
Having met each other in
Singapore while serving for the RAF, the Parkers have
been married for more than 60 years and have spent the
majority of the pandemic shielding together.
Mr Parker said: “We are
pleased to be receiving the vaccination and are looking
forward to being able to see our family safely again,
spending time with them is what it’s all about.”
Nottingham and
Nottinghamshire'sNHSClinical
Commissioning Group is asking for residents to wait
until they have received a letter before contacting the
NHS, their GP or local hospital.
19/1/21
RAFPolice
No 1 (Specialist) Police Wing recently established a
liaison officer with its opposite number in the United
States; the Department of the Air Force, Office of
Special Investigations.
Both
organisations exist to protect critical technologies
and information, detect and mitigate threats, provide
global specialised police and security capability,
conduct serious and complex criminal investigations,
and counter foreign adversaries and threats.
This
vital post will enable the timely and effective
sharing of intelligence, co-ordinated responses to
protect joint interests and the development and
dissemination of specialist best practice.
There
has already been significant success across the
counterintelligence, space and cyber domains and is
only the beginning of a highly effective and mutually
beneficial future relationship.
15/1/21
Flight
Sergeant Penny Jordan has been awarded a CAS Commendation in
the New Years Honours 2021. Awarded for her dedication,
forward thinking, passion and hard workthat she has shown
during the last decade on SIB
10/1/21
Yesterday RAFPolice
from RAF Brize Norton were providing aviation security when
the Royal Air Force delivered nearly 6,000 life-saving
Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines to RAF Gibralter on behalf of
@FCDOGovUK
6/1/21
RAF Police Sgt Dave
Taylor is a volunteer with the @LEBBSBloodBikes.
Since the pandemic began they have delivered COVID-19 test
samples and recently they were collecting breast milk from
a self isolating mum to her baby in a hospital Neonatal
Dept
4/1/21
4/1/21
Best wishes to Warrant
Office Bob Byrne MBE as he finally retires after 40 yrs
service in the RAF Police. During his service he has been
all over the world. Thank you to RAF_Valley for giving Bob
the send off he deserves
1/1/21
Bolton-le-Sands couple celebrate diamond wedding anniversary
Ken and Eileen Kidd - who ran shops in the Lancaster and
Morecambe area during the '70s and '80s - celebrated 60 years of
marriage on December 27.
Eileen and Ken Kidd celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary
on December 27.
The couple, who have lived in Bolton-le-Sands for 35 years, met
at a dance on Central Pier in Morecambe, and were married on
December 27, 1960, at Cross Hill Congregational Church in
Torrisholme Road.
Ken, 85, joined the RAF police in 1954 as part of his two year
National Service, then went on to become a police officer
serving Morecambe in 1956, later joining Cumberland and
Westmorland Police.
Eileen, 84, trained as a nurse at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.
Ken and Eileen Kidd on their wedding day.
Later they both took over Slyne Newsagents and ran the shop
between 1969 – 1975, before running the Battery Post Office in
Heysham for 10 years between 1976 and 1986.
Ken then worked as a driver and Eileen worked as sub post
mistress at the Moor hospital.
The couple have three children - Kenneth (Kennie), Joanne, and
Jonathan - six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
They have been living in Rydal Road in Bolton-Le-Sands for 35
years and are enjoying their retirement.
21/12/20
The RAF Police Section at RAF Honington in conjunction with the
RAF Force Protection Centre have conducted enhanced Security
patrols within RAF Honington
and RAF Barnham. Throughout the Christmas and
NewYear period Security will be supported by use of the FP and
Security RPAS.
21/12/20
Congratulations to
Number 7 RAF Police and Security Squadron who are the winners
of the 2020 De Putron Trophy.
Number 7 RAF Police
and Security Squadron provides policing and security for the
south of the UK, units include RAF Benson, Brize Norton,
Northolt, Odiham and St Mawgan. Their entry demonstrated the
demanding year the Sqn has had and how it continuously
protected and secured the RAF and its assets 24/7/365.
Provost Marshal
Group Captain David Wilkinson said:
Congratulations
to No. 7 RAFP Sqn for an outstanding submission. The
competition has highlighted the incredibly diverse work that
the RAF Police undertake and the pride with which it is
undertaken. During this challenging period, you have
continued to deliver in all areas of security and law
enforcement, protecting the RAF from the full spectrum of
threats we face.
The De Putron Trophy
is awarded annually to the regular or reserve RAF Police
formation that has shown the greatest achievement, leadership,
exceptional standards and endeavours, and is awarded following
the assessment of a submission by the RAF Police Sqns.
The De Putron trophy
was commissioned in 1948 by the former Provost Marshal, Air
Commodore D De Putron CB, CBE, RAF.
21/12/20
RAF Leeming corporal to undertake 876-mile
challenge
Cpl Paddy Flint.
A corporal based
at RAF Leeming is undertaking an 876-mile virtual ride
covering the equivalent distance from Land’s End to John
O’Groats in aid of the RAF Benevolent Fund, the RAF’s
leading welfare charity.
Cpl Paddy Flint, 43, is a member of the RAF Police and has
served in the Royal Air Force for more than 20 years.
In 2015, Paddy was
diagnosed with Non-Epileptic Attack Disorder, a condition
that causes him to blackout.
Paddy was previously a dog handler/trainer, instructor, and
coach/mentor, and while the diagnosis radically affected his
career he has successfully fought to stay in the RAF.
He was also forced
to surrender his driving license in 2013 which has since
affected his career path. However, earlier this year Paddy
was awarded a grant for a recumbent trike by the RAF
Benevolent Fund. Paddy said: “The RAF Benevolent Fund has been
instrumental in giving me my life back.
“The recumbent
trike they funded has given me not only fresh impetus to get
out and about, but it has also become a primary mode of
transport since I surrendered my driving licence.
“Through this challenge I hope I can show that anyone can do
this, because apart from my usual few miles I’ve done no
training whatsoever.
“I’m also aware
that the RAF Benevolent Fund won’t have had as many chances
to get out and ‘rattle the buckets’ this year, so any amount
I can raise will be vital in assisting service personnel and
their families.”
The RAF Benevolent Fund provides financial, emotional, and
practical assistance to serving and retired RAF personnel
and their families. This includes grants to help with
financial difficulty, free memberships for Headspace,Airplay
youth clubs, and more.
Aaron Tillyer, Regional Fundraiser at the RAF Benevolent
Fund, said: “I’m thrilled that we were able to support Paddy
earlier this year by providing a grant for his recumbent
trike, and it’s really inspiring to see that he’s decided to
set this challenge in order to give back to the Fund. This
support will allow us to continue supporting the RAF Family,
whenever they might need us.”
The RAF Benevolent Fund has launched a range of welfare
initiatives to support personnel and their families through
the Covid-19 pandemic.
It introduced a
24-hour emotional support helpline, created an online mental
wellbeing zone, and began offering Headspace memberships to
RAF partners and spouses.
The fund has also
offered a £2,500 grant to each RAF station to provide
activity and wellbeing packs for RAF children and launched
Airplay Connect, an online version of its youth support
service.
5/12/20
Flight
Sergeant Chris Ward joined the RAF Police Reserves 16
years ago because he felt it would offer him an
opportunity to specialise and travel the world. As you
will see from his story the RAF Reserves has certainly
lived up to his expectations.
To
date he has travelled throughout Europe, the Middle
East, Iceland, Canada, USA and Belize. His chosen
trade has proven flexible by fitting around his
lifestyle and is always delivering on those amazing
experiences.
In
March Chris mobilised as part of OP RESCRIPT to work
alongside his regular RAF Police colleagues at RAF
Wittering, where, for 4 months he was in
charge of law enforcement and investigations. The
section was really busy, and he found myself involved in
changing security processes to align with government
guidance such as social distancing and training
personnel for a range of tasks in support of
Covid-resilience.
In
July he took command of a Mobile Testing Unit, managing
a team of 12 military personnel travelling around East
Anglia to Covid testing hotspots. He also trained up
teams of civilian contractors to took over the role at
the end of the summer.
Chris
has returned to his civilian role now as an Actuary but
feels incredibly proud to have done his ‘bit’ in the
fight against the pandemic. He feels blessed to have the
support of his family especially as his partner is a
Teacher and he is very grateful to his employer for
allowing him to mobilise at such short notice.
25/11/20
Congratulations to Cpl
Mick Shave from RAFP Protective Security Section at
on receiving the
Worshipful Company of Security Professionals RAF Police
Protective Security Award ‘Securing the Skies’.
The award was
recognition for his significant contribution to the RAF’s
ISTAR Force and protection of its mission winning capability
during the period 1 January – 31 December 2019.
The ceremony was held
via Zoom and the award was presented by the Master WCoSP,
Yasmeen Stratton.
