Not so long ago anyone showing an undue interest in a MOD establishment would have been moved on sharpish. Attitudes, though, have eased over the years, and the attention of bona fide plane spotters outside RAF bases is tolerated.
At RAF Coningsby Corporal Steve Cambers of the RAF Police Flight, even considers that the aviation enthusiasts who wander along the perimeter fences are an asset:
"We keep an eye out for any suspicious activity. But we can't be everywhere at once," he said. "Being a spotter myself, I got to know many of the enthusiasts who come to Coningsby, and I realised that they could be our eyes and ears.
"I discussed it with my colleague PC Pete Smith of the MOD Police, and proposed a scheme along similar lines to the Neighbourhood Watch system to my CO. She gave it the green light almost straight away."
"Being a spotter myself, I got to know many of the enthusiasts who come to Coningsby, and I realised that they could be our eyes and ears."
Corporal Cambers organised a meeting with some of the more regular spotters to flesh out his idea. Within six months 150 people had joined the scheme.
Those who join RAF Coningsby's Spotter Watch complete a registration form and are given a membership card which has on it telephone numbers they should ring if they see anything suspicious.
Craig Wise from Mansfield and Graham Platt from nearby Lincoln are two members of the scheme:
"It's a really good idea," said Graham. "It helps Steve and it's good for us too. Registering means that they know we are legitimate enthusiasts.
"There are probably only 2,000 hard core spotters in the UK, so we get to know them.
"If anyone is acting suspiciously or asking odd questions then we have a number to call," he explained.
And the spotters use the number. Corporal Cambers gets four or five calls a week and investigates them all.
But is there a danger that a keenness to help might lead to a vigilante approach? It seems not:
"If we see something we phone it in, but that's all," said Craig Wise.
"In this day and age you never know what might happen if you intervene."
Graham Platt agrees:
"We don't believe we have been given any extra powers. It's really about behaving like a responsible adult."
Corporal Cambers is convinced that the scheme has proved its value and now plans to contact other RAF bases, encouraging them to join in.
MODUK Defence News
6 Mar 08
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