The Metropolitan Police Air Support Unit (ASU) has been providing cover to London for almost 25 years.

The unit has three Eurocopter EC145, which are the first aircraft of their type to be used by any UK air support unit, although they are already widely used in Europe.

The team is made up of 18 police constables, three police sergeants and is supervised on a local level by a police inspector.

It also employs police staff including pilots, operations room staff, engineers and an intelligence officer.

Each aircraft is crewed by a pilot and two police officers, called observers.

Each observer has a different role in the aircraft, and between them and the pilot, an effective level of support is provided to police ground units.

Julia Kennard finds out more about the Met's high-flying crime fighters...

Fighting crime from 10,000 feet is a job London’s Met police helicopter crew never grow tired of.

“For me it is the most exciting and interesting job you can do”, says Sergeant Richard Brandon, 42, originally from Durham.

“Very few people get to see London from the skies everyday and get paid for it.”

The team, based at Lippitts Hill, Loughton, have covered every major public event in the capital from escorting Diana’s funeral cortege, to assisting ground crews in the 7/7 bombings, to capturing live footage at the recent student protests.

But despite playing a key role in history, the team get more reward from tasks that tap into a more basic human instinct.

“There is nothing more satisfying that finding a criminal in someone’s back garden, who might else have got away with it,” says Sgt Brandon.

Captain Lee Tooze added: “It’s finding missing people that is a real boost.

“Nine out of ten times we won’t find anything, but when we do - like a finding a missing three year old who might otherwise have died from hypothermia - it’s very rewarding.”

Most of the team’s work is spent using their powerful cameras, thermal imaging and searchlights to search for suspects or missing people, pursue vehicles, track armed suspects, help keep public order and counter-terrorism.

At Christmas and New Year the team are unfortunately called to an increased amount of suicides.

But whatever the job the team can be scrambled into action within seconds, arriving anywhere in London within 15 minutes.

Inside the helicopter the police officers work with teams on the ground to relay vital 360 degree information on a large crime scene within seconds.

But it is the pilots, who often have RAF or Royal Navy backgrounds, who have to deal with the delicate task of negotiating tower blocks while listening to six radio stations and various instructions.

Pilot Gary Sweeting says: “It’s real pat your head and rub your stomach business. You have to be very on the ball. ”

“I put my life in his hands whenever we go out,” says PC Gould.

One of the main factors preventing the team from doing their job is the weather: a severely foggy day can ground the crew due to poor visibility.

But it is humans who can pose the most threat to their safety.

PC Chris Gould says laser pens, which are often used by teenagers who don’t realise their dangerous consequences, can ruin a pilot’s night vision.

She says: “If a laser pen is shone at a helicopter it can be really dazzling. It could blind the pilot momentarily.”

Insp Andy Brittain, explains : “We will always take a robust approach to anyone using laser lights in a dangerous way - and people will be prosecuted for doing so.”

Overall there 32,532 police officers in the Met of which 21 are in the air support unit.

That makes for a close-knit team who are always watching each others back.

But despite the team’s solidarity and the privilege of flying over London everyday, it is fighting crime that keeps the crew happy in their job.

As PC Terry White says: “I’m still a police officer catching the bad guys.”

Case studies...

Bexley: In Bexley on November 13 the air team helped local police search for several suspects hiding on a roof.

They were found by the helicopter crew and arrested by the team on the ground.

Bromley: In Bromley on November 6, the air team helped local police with a firearms incident.

The helicopter crew found three armed people in a wooded area and were able to direct armed officers so arrests could be made.

Lewisham: In Lewisham on November 24, the air team helped local police in pursuit of a vehicle.

The helicopter crew enabled officers on the ground to arrest two people for burglary.

Greenwich: In Greenwich on November 9, the air team helped local police search for a burglary suspect in back gardens.

The person was located by the helicopter crew and arrested by officers on the ground.