Helicopter noise in the early hours

Lauraw · July 2011

Has anyone else been kept awake by the police helicopters circling over Finsbury Park/Green Lanes. It has been a problem for me several times over the past few weeks. I want to get an idea from people when and for how long this is happening so I can complain - let me know dates and times! Today 2.15am - 3.15am!

Detritus · July 2011

Tell me about it, looks like its at the end of Moray Rd.

Marquis · July 2011

12 July, 2.30 to 3.30, felt like they were really low and trying to look into my bedroom. But I may have imagined that.

Sevlow · July 2011

'Excuse me Officer, could you stop chasing criminals in your helicopter cause it's keeping me awake at night'

Four Eyes · July 2011

Bloody thing was driving me nuts last night around 3-4am. Tired

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Siolae · July 2011

@Misscara, it isn't just your perception. There has definitely been an increase in the last few weeks. Seem to remember a few years ago they used to train on a Sunday evening. It is bloody loud.

Jenowl · July 2011

Marquis, I had the same impression, it sounded like they were hovering right outside my (third floor) window.

krappyrubsnif · July 2011

This is very good news. I haven't noticed anything at all. Normally I am a very light sleeper but I've not been woken at all, which means that I have healthy sleeping patterns again.

Or that I am going deaf. Hmm.

kp82 · July 2011

You seriously think the police would carry out training exercises in a helicopter in the early hours of the morning?

It's more likely they were looking for a burglar or high risk missing person or something just as serious. They don't put a helicopter in the air for nothing.

I think some people should stop whining about things like this. If it was your house that had been burgled or your elderly relative with dementia that had gone missing in the early hours, you would be very grateful that a helicopter was up looking for them.

You live in a city. Noise is to be expected!

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kp82 · August 2011

Although Stroud Green is quite a nice area, we border some of the rougher parts of London. Andover Estate, Blackhorse road etc. In order to see those areas properly, the Helicopter would have to fly over Stroud Green and direct their cameras into the relevant areas from there.

Roy · August 2011

Those nice police folks appear to be playing with their noisy flying machines again. Fortunately I only hear it in the distance - not directly buzzing the area... Oh, and please tell me how flying helicopters over the rough areas of London makes those areas safer - compared with the vast number of coppers on the beat you could have patrolling those areas for the cost of their high-tech toy. Helicopters are *seriously* expensive. roy

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Roy · August 2011

It's starting to annoy me now - has been coming closer again. Yes, it's frustrating that just when you think it's gone it comes back again. It sounds like it's worse for you though - I don't think it'd really bother me if I l closed the windows - but the flat is quite warm and I prefer to sleep with them open. Interesting though how much worse it is for you - I'm on Florence Road (opposite Ronaldshay) so quite close to UTP. Maybe they really are buzzing your house

Or maybe I'm just sufficiently deaf from listening to loud music that I'm less sensitive. Or just sufficiently old. I dunno... roy

Marquis · August 2011

I stay up longer on Monday nights because of a radio show, and I always notice it on those nights, so yes, I would say it is a regular thing rather than a spontaneous chase.

tosscat · August 2011

I seemed to carry on for yonks last night. I often wonder whether the lost productivity, increase in accidents, and the increase in stress potentially caused by the chopper noise is sufficiently offset by rounding up some youths who have twocked a couple of vehicles. The incidents 'solved' using it are rarely high profile enough to make the news, and even the raids to catch the manhole cover thieves made the news.

dorothy · August 2011

Normally I don't mind it. I quite like that feeling of impending doom. Last night it was circling for ages though. I thought they should just come in and look in my wardrobe, and be done with it, because they seemed to have looked everywhere else.

Because it was so still and humid it was nearly enough to bring on a 'Nam' flashback as well.

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Siolae · August 2011

The bloody swimming pool gets broken into every time there is a hot night. It's hardly a reason to raise the cavalry. It isn't just kids that break in either, there are plenty of local stories about the post pub Park Road Lido.

Emma · August 2011

I think they've been reading this board and are just doing it to wind you up.

Anyway I live on UTP and haven't heard the helicopter, but I've had a hacking cough for the past month which has probably done more to keep my neighbours awake than anything else. You're welcome, neighbours!

krappyrubsnif · August 2011

The helicopter is much more annoying when it hovers over the open air Globe Theatre at Southwark, and drowns out whatever play they happen to have on.......

kp82 · August 2011

I've been told it was up last night because Highgate Wood School was broken into. 6 people arrested for burglary. I'd say it was worth it.

Roy · August 2011

Why not send a police car to the school to arest the burglars? Or is that too old-fashioned? What are the occupants of the helicopter going to do? Parachute down on top of the burglars? roy

Emma · August 2011

They work with the police on the ground to pinpoint where the criminals are, and shine a big light on them. Has noone ever seen Police Camera Action?!

miss annie · August 2011

Surely it's better to sneak up on them in a car and nab them red handed than alert them to police presence with a montrous flying machine?

Emma · August 2011

It's more for when people run into fields, woods etc, where you can't take a car. It flushes 'em out, like rabbits.

I think they may use heat-sensing cameras as well, or maybe that's something I saw in a film $:\$

krappyrubsnif · August 2011

I was just talking to someone about this who has got a policeman friend. Apparently, the thing to do if you are being chased by the Old Bill in a helicopter is not to make for woods or fields but to leg it to the most densely populated street you can find.

Obvious, really.

Apparently the police helicopter costs £2,500 an hour. What a waste of time and money.

sincers · August 2011

makes good tv though

Roy · August 2011

The cost is exactly what I'm getting at. Sure a helicopter can help - but is there any hard evidence that it's made the police much more effective at catching criminals than they were in the old days? I just can't help thinking that if they took all the money they spend on helicopters, tasers, computers and god knows what else and instead spent it on employing coppers on the beat we'd all be a lot safer. roy

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