100th SFS, MOD Police 'spot' way to improve security, community relations

  • Published
  • By Gina Randall
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Base personnel may notice people at certain positions outside the perimeter fence with large cameras pointed towards the flightline of RAF Mildenhall. For those new to the base and their families, this may be a concern.

"New Airmen aren't used to seeing people so close to the fence with a camera," said Adrian Carver, a tail spotter from Mildenhall, Suffolk.

The law is different in the U.K. and although this can prove challenging when new service members assigned to the 100th Security Forces Squadron arrive, the agencies on base work together to educate personnel.

"The U.K. has no law for taking photographs of aircraft or structures from outside establishments, as long as they're not trespassing on the facility," explained Paul Glover, Defense Community Police Constable from Selby, Yorkshire.

However, on RAF Mildenhall there is a system in place which allows members of the community to view the aircraft arriving and departing from base. The tail spotter program joins local knowledge with base law enforcement, allowing locals to view aircraft from the perimeter. In exchange, they are the eyes and ears for the Ministry of Defence Police and for the 100th SFS.

"Because the spotters are around the establishments most days, sometimes for hours on end, they are in a position to notice any activity out of the ordinary, for example people who don't meet the usual spotter profile," said Glover.

The spotters get a lot out of their time at the fence, and the authorities inside the fence are grateful for their observations. But to ensure the program can continue, there are rules in place to protect both sides.

"All the spotters are checked through the police, and registered on a database. Each member has a registration card which they can use to identify themselves in the first instance," added Glover. "They are to respect private property and to comply with any requests given by law enforcement agencies. This would include moving away from a fence line if asked to do so."

This relationship between like-minded individuals from the local area and the U.S. Air Force began long ago.

"There have been spotters in the U.K. since around 1930 onwards. The base has had spotters since post-1945, when aviation became a common sight," Glover explained. "The spotters have been around the base since the late 1950s."

The program was set up as a joint development between the MOD Police, 100th SFS and the 48th Security Forces Squadron, at RAF Lakenheath, in response to the ever-increasing numbers of plane spotters surrounding the bases.

"If we see something that's a little out of the ordinary, we pass that information on. We were given cards with telephone numbers to the police. If we see something wrong, we can make a phone call and they can be there as quickly as possible," Carver added. "Prior to the program, if a spotter saw something of concern we would need to drive to the visitor control center, say 'we need to speak to someone.' This was valuable time lost."

Here, it's a good relationship where the different nationalities work together to ensure the safety of the base population and assets. The tail spotters hope this relationship will continue.

"As long as the security forces and the military police would like our help, we will be here," Carver explained.

The people Carver meets at the fence are as passionate as he is about this support continuing.

"I've only been doing it (tail spotting) for about eight or nine years which compared to some is a short period, some people that I know have been doing it for over 50 years!" he exclaimed.

Some photos taken by the spotters can be seen in publications, but mostly Carver and the other spotters are outside the fence, come rain or shine, for their passion for military aircraft.

"Mostly the photos are for my own amusement," Carver explained. "Not only is it just taking the photos, a lot of it is a social thing as well. We meet at the various locations and hang out and chat."

For more information, contact the MOD Police office at commercial 01371 854444.