Police Scotland officers flew aboard RAF Chinook helicopters between force headquarters during a joint training exercise with military personnel and the emergency services on Friday, the Ministry of Defence stated.
Exercise Tartan Kukri brought together Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, the Scottish Ambulance Service and military units, and sits within the wider Exercise Kukri Dawn, a routine RAF-led exercise running from 2 to 18 September which trains new Chinook aircrew by replicating operational scenarios.
Squadron Leader Paul Day, Chinook Flight Commander, said: “This is the culminating exercise for our trainee Chinook pilots and crewmen before they progress to operational flying duties. Operating in the demanding conditions found here in Scotland, alongside our civil partners and the British Army, provides realistic, high-quality training that develops the skills, experience and confidence our crews need for future operations.”
Lieutenant Colonel Doug Mackay, Joint Regional Liaison Officer Scotland, said: “This exercise is a valuable opportunity for Defence to work in close cooperation with our Emergency Services colleagues in a challenging and fast-moving scenario, improving our interoperability and gaining mutual understanding of each other’s organisations and way of working. Tough, realistic training is key to operational success on the day.”
The specialist teams involved included Police Scotland firearms officers, Counter Terrorism Policing officers and the Major Incident Support and Coordination Unit, alongside 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, Military Provost Staff, the Scottish Ambulance Service Special Operations Response Team, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service National Inter-agency Liaison Officers, RAF Chinook crews and Tactical Support Wing personnel from 28 Squadron.
The RAF was based at Police Scotland headquarters at Tulliallan, with officers flown from there to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service headquarters at Cambuslang, where they joined the Royal Marines and 2 SCOTS in a scenario-based exercise using blank firing ammunition.
According to the department, the exercise also tested the process for the safe handling, triage and handover of individuals between military and police personnel, with the aim of ensuring smooth coordination between the two. The partnership reflects the principles of the Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Programme, which sets out how emergency services should work together to save lives and reduce harm.
A previous Exercise Kukri Dawn took place in March, with joint police and defence activity centred on Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh.
