This photograph was commissioned as part of a series titled ‘Force’, documenting the diverse roles which constitute Scotland’s police force. The Air Support Unit provides aerial support to territorial divisions in the Strathclyde Police area and it currently operates the only police helicopter service in Scotland. The unit covers an area of 5,348 square miles, a population of two and a half million people, and a coastline of over 4,000 miles. All crew members volunteer for the job and must maintain competency in fire-fighting, first aid, underwater escape training and a variety of other skills. Any police officer is at liberty to request aerial support and the unit regularly responds to requests from police forces outside the Strathclyde area.