Annoying and Constant Police Helicopters around Melbourne

MementoMori on 19/01/2021 - 10:18
Last edited 19/01/2021 - 13:12 by 1 other user

In and around inner Melbourne and metro Melbourne we have had a massive increase of police (and other) helicopters flying around. You can see for yourself with the various flight radar trackers.

It started with the Covid lockdowns in March 2020 and give a creepy 'we are watching you' / 'don't forget who's boss' police state vibe. In the early days, one could think 'oh, they must be looking for 5km rule breakers' (or something).

To me, it's harassment, and it really disturbs both my work and my sleep. I can hear them over my house at midnight and then again at 6am probably 2 or 3 days per week.

What are your thoughts and do they annoy you?

Poll Options

  • 49
    Yes, they annoy me, and they should stop
  • 6
    Yes, they annoy me, but we need them for covid
  • 12
    Yes, but they don't annoy me
  • 189
    What police choppers?
Home & Garden

Comments

  • rubb3rchick3n on 19/01/2021 - 10:35
    +30

    It's harassment that there are a few choppas about hahaha imagine living the the city and complaining about noise Lol

    • MementoMori on 19/01/2021 - 15:04
      -3

      They go out to the burbs… especially Narre/Pakenham (car jackings/home invasions) and Belgrave (unknown?)

      • miles3719 on 20/01/2021 - 13:19

        Yes. I believe that the power company also uses them for some reconnaissance of power line faults or similar. They were in Emerald, Vic recently too I hear (I live there but did not hear any)

        • Euphemistic on 20/01/2021 - 14:32

          Had that near work not long ago. Chopper hovering for hours a day for a couple of weeks looking at powerlines.

          I built a bridge and got over it.

  • Cheaplikethebird on 19/01/2021 - 10:49
    +1

    Is this over the CBD? I live in the Chapel St area and haven't noticed an increase, although we already had the helis flying low to land at The Alfred Hospital.

    Are your North, East, South or West?

    • MementoMori on 19/01/2021 - 15:12
      -2

      Same area as you, Windsor

      • Cheaplikethebird on 19/01/2021 - 15:31
        +1

        Yeah we get them passing over going to The Alfred but I haven't really noticed any hovering recently. I did on the few sunny weekend days last year when there were still tight restrictions on outdoor groups but not since.

        • MementoMori on 21/01/2021 - 16:32
          +1

          Thanks for sharing your experience :)

  • Muzeeb on 19/01/2021 - 11:02

    You can see for yourself with the various flight radar trackers.

    You can see victoria police airwing on your tracker?

    What suburb are you in? Inner West?

  • CheapAtTwiceThePrice on 19/01/2021 - 11:06
    +1

    Police helicoptors don't show on my premium FlightRadar in Adelaide.
    Haven't seen them lately but there was a time they were always up at all hours.

    • Forfiet on 19/01/2021 - 11:30

      In the Southern suburbs we used to have low flying helicopters at stupid hours, I can kinda sympathise at least on principle(They were causing the houses to vibrate loudly)

      But like CheapAtTwiceThePrice said I haven't seen them lately either…..

    • [Deactivated] on 19/01/2021 - 13:18
      +3

      You can see them with this tracker

      https://www.radarbox.com/@-37.96294,145.01031,z10

      Here is one in the air right now https://www.radarbox.com/flight/POL30

      • mapax on 19/01/2021 - 13:30

        Any idea what’s with the plane that is “blocked”?

        • [Deactivated] on 19/01/2021 - 13:41

          Dunno, where is that?

          • mapax on 19/01/2021 - 13:46

            @[Deactivated]: It was heading ESE but appears to have now turned around and is near Noojee and heading towards Melbourne.
            It says BLOCKED B350

            • Muzeeb on 19/01/2021 - 14:06
              +5

              @mapax: RAAF training flight likely out of East Sale

      • Muzeeb on 19/01/2021 - 14:10

        You can see them with this tracker

        Pretty sure that's not meant to happen. Interesting.

        • Zephyrus on 20/01/2021 - 18:38
          +1

          AFAIK Radarbox uses crowdsourced transponders while FlightRadar is commerical ones and you can pay them to hide your aircraft.

      • CheapAtTwiceThePrice on 23/01/2021 - 22:37

        My man!
        One just flew over 23/01/21 and it shows on the link you provided but NOT on my Flightradar.
        Even has "BLOCKED' in the id.
        Thank you.

    • MementoMori on 19/01/2021 - 15:07

      They do here - STARPOL 1, etc

  • DashCam AKA Rolts on 19/01/2021 - 11:11
    +5

    Paranoid much? Have you seen "GoodFellas"?

    https://youtu.be/BCg7rxK2FuQ

    • MementoMori on 19/01/2021 - 15:08

      Ha, great movie.

      I'm not worried they are chasing 'me' - it's annoying to sleep, my building shakes. Never used to happen before for the many years I have been here.

  • bobbified on 19/01/2021 - 11:19
    +14

    To me, it's harassment

    Seriously? Did you call the cops? LOL

    They're actually doing training at the moment with landings on the new helipad on top of the Spencer St building. That training is expected to finish in late February.

    I would say it's pretty unreasonable to expect "peace and quiet" all the time while living in the middle of the CBD. It's just part of the lifestyle.

      • bobbified on 19/01/2021 - 15:21
        +6

        It comes from the same place you got the idea that they're "watching you".

        You're living in the inner city and you're here complaining about inner city noise. I mean, what were you expecting?

        I live right in the middle of the CBD myself. Every day and night, I hear sirens, protesters, drunk people, helicopters, building construction, trams and everything else you'd expect to hear. That's what city living is.

        • MementoMori on 19/01/2021 - 16:16
          -8

          Ah OK, so I didn't mention it… it was you exaggerating.

          Having said that, I agree inner city living comes with a certain amount of noise, absolutely and of course.

          The debate is about what's considered reasonable and acceptable.

          • Techie4066 on 20/01/2021 - 13:12
            +2

            @MementoMori: Ok, so you feel that people in the city are constantly being watched by the police helicopters, and the sound bothers you. Yet they're conducting normal activities that you'd expect in a CBD and producing a normal amount of sound. What do you expect? The CBD is full of activity by definition. If anything you're complaining for no reason.

            • MementoMori on 21/01/2021 - 16:33

              @Techie4066: Is there a point at which you would consider it not normal?

              e.g. 10 helicopters per day passing your house?

              • Techie4066 on 21/01/2021 - 16:35

                @MementoMori: Why should I make generalisations when it all depends on the area in which you live - the population, the amount of air activity, the flight paths, the airports nearby. That sounds normal to me.

  • CyberMurning on 19/01/2021 - 11:28
    -4

    if there is no cops in this world then you will regret posting this

    • Dalton on 20/01/2021 - 20:38
      +2

      Sorry, just to clarify, are you saying:

      If 'Cops' = 0 then 'Regret about helicopter post' = ∞

      Or are you just saying: "Be thankful we have cops?"

      Thanks in advance for your patience.

  • elgrande on 19/01/2021 - 12:09
    +2

    OP can't COP the CHOP from the COP CHOPPERS, he should POP down to the COP SHOP and ask them to STOP otherwise he's going to POP and do something over the TOP.

    • holdenmg on 19/01/2021 - 12:27
      +2

      …and when he does they will Tazer the OP

  • SF3 on 19/01/2021 - 12:23

    It seems we are "never" going to enough policing or "too much" of it…

    Get some ANCs to help.

    • holdenmg on 19/01/2021 - 13:04
      +3

      African National Congress?

      • Muzeeb on 19/01/2021 - 13:17

        No silly billy

        Annoying and Constant

  • newjerseydamo on 19/01/2021 - 14:12
    +2

    Maybe blame the criminals instead?

    • mapax on 19/01/2021 - 14:18
      +1

      Isn’t that problematic or something?

    • MementoMori on 19/01/2021 - 15:07
      -1

      Are they actually chasing criminals?

      • newjerseydamo on 19/01/2021 - 16:33
        +11

        We're a city of 4 million people. Second largest city in Australia.
        Crime does happen. They're not sightseeing; it costs a lot of money to run and maintain helicopters.

        • Gnostikos on 20/01/2021 - 22:12
          -1

          They're not sightseeing; it costs a lot of money to run and maintain helicopters.

          Hahaha. Efficient budget spending and law enforcement. Good one.

          Cops love playing with their new toys and will use any excuse to do so. Give a man hammer, et al…

    • Switchblade88 on 19/01/2021 - 16:03
      +1

      Didn't see 'Bikies' as an option on the poll

  • big1964 on 19/01/2021 - 14:14
    +1

    I find them annoying as well at all hours of the day and night I live in the west.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 19/01/2021 - 14:21
    +3

    Wait until OP finds out VicPol operate an official Drone Unit.

    The Drones are always watching. Always.

  • dylo on 19/01/2021 - 15:24
    +3

    It's explained here, I live in the CBD and haven't noticed much difference but it's training and practice landings for the new spencer street helipad.

    • MementoMori on 19/01/2021 - 15:32
      +1

      Thanks for the link, but this has been happening since March 2020

      I also live 8km outside the CBD, away from all airports (Essendon, Tulla and Avalon), yet I still get them

      • dirtybigbjelke on 20/01/2021 - 09:17

        I think the new helicopters are louder but have no factual evidence. Also during lockdown all other noises were much less so you probably noticed it more and thirdly in recent weeks I think they have been flying lower due to cloud cover.

  • AdosHouse on 19/01/2021 - 15:36
    +5

    Complains about police choppers "watching us", proceeds to watch them on an aircraft tracking site.

    • Switchblade88 on 19/01/2021 - 16:03

      Bird watching goes both ways.

  • Mechz on 19/01/2021 - 16:14
    +1

    I'm in the inner north and can hear the choppers through 2 sets of doors (balcony glass then bedroom) at all hours of the night.

    It's been like that ever since I moved here. Kinda annoying but I think I've almost tuned them out after 4 years.

    • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 20/01/2021 - 07:04
      +1

      Inner North you're more likely hearing Air Ambulances.

      • dirtybigbjelke on 20/01/2021 - 09:16

        The base for Vic Pol is at Essendon Airport so we get them overhead frequently when they are on their way elsewhere but yes we also get Air Ambulance

  • morse on 19/01/2021 - 17:09
    +1

    There’s been a few periods when police choppers were going up every night on the Gold Coast and yep it’s annoying. We lived in Broadbeach when there was that bikie brawl, so there was a lot after that. They do some good work though, and I guess sometimes they are training. These days I only ever hear them when they are out searching for a missing person or dealing with hooning/stolen vehicles. It’s expensive to run a helicopter, so you’d hope it’s only when needed.

  • nuttapillar on 19/01/2021 - 17:09
    -1

    That's what you get for living in a ghetto

    • MementoMori on 20/01/2021 - 10:04
      +1

      Hahah! Upvote from me! :)

  • jjjaar on 19/01/2021 - 20:35

    Voted wrong accidentally but can’t revote.

    Picked “ Yes, they annoy me, but we need them for covid” but didn’t mean to.

  • Logical on 20/01/2021 - 00:02

    This was exactly what was happening here in my area in Brisbane, around 7km out from CBD….. they fly more so at night eg around 10pm till at least 1am… circle around multiple times with their lights off and at that time of night the noise is quite loud as there is very little ambient noise around. This used to go on for weeks, but recently we had a few quiet months…..

    I know that a few suburbs away some blokes (probably fed up with it) shone a laser light at them which resulted in a visit to the local court and a nice fine…..

  • Euphemistic on 20/01/2021 - 05:54
    +6

    Seriously? You need to learn to live with it or move to the country.

    People live near train lines and after a while don’t notice the trains. That’s because they don’t stress about it and eventually their brain just ignores the noise. If you do stress about it you are only going to notice it more - especially for something you can’t do anything about.

    • MementoMori on 20/01/2021 - 10:05
      -4

      If you're a pushover, then yeah, you'll just put up with it without any complaints.

      If you're a person with conviction, you'll stand up for your rights in some way by way of complaint or otherwise.

      • Euphemistic on 20/01/2021 - 10:10
        +5

        Nah. Just need to focus your energies on something more important. You are sounding like the sort of person that moves in next door to a pub then starts complaining about loud noises on a Saturday night.

        We used to live near where the Westpac rescue chopper flew regularly. A good noise.

        • MementoMori on 20/01/2021 - 10:25

          I agree with the comment on focusing energies.

          I disagree with the pub comment. Been living in inner Melb my whole life, mostly much closer to the CBD.

          How many helicopters would it take before you'd complain? 1 a day, 3 a day, 5 a day?

          10 a day = 'just part and parcel of living in a big city?'

          • Euphemistic on 20/01/2021 - 10:44
            +2

            @MementoMori: Well, you’ve said it’s 2-3 days per week, so 10 a day seems unlikely.

            Has it actually increased that much? Or are you just noticing it more because you are now annoyed by it?

            Again, the more you notice and stress, the more you notice and stress.

            • MementoMori on 21/01/2021 - 16:37

              @Euphemistic: I'm just asking if there is a limit, as people seem to say 'you live in a city, therefore you shouldn't complain about it'

              I find this very binary thinking.

              Some noise is OK, of course, but it gets to a point where it's unreasonable.

              I'm just asking where is that point, e.g. is it 2-3 per day?

              FYI I had them at 6am this morning.

      • dbun1 on 21/01/2021 - 13:12
        +1

        So who have you formally complained to then? Or are you just planning on having an anonymous rant online?

  • mlbrooke on 20/01/2021 - 09:00
    +2

    You sound like you feel that the police can not do their job if “you” feel they are harassing you?

    If I was able to fly a helicopter everyday I would too! Good on them it possibly means a response to a significant incident will be faster than otherwise.

    • MementoMori on 20/01/2021 - 10:06

      The 'problem' is the dramatic increase since covid. Not the concept of helicopters and regular police work.

      • digitalbargain on 20/01/2021 - 20:12

        You should try the calm app, there was a good deal on it recently

  • afah0447 on 20/01/2021 - 09:51
    +1

    Geez….I never knew Melbourne CBD had turned into South Central Los Angeles!

    • MementoMori on 20/01/2021 - 10:08

      Yeah it's a bit like that

      It's not just the CBD, I'm 7-8km away, and you can see by the maps they do regular laps around all the burbs (40km out) and back.

  • MementoMori on 20/01/2021 - 10:07
    +1

    Had them several times yesterday, including shaking my house at midnight last night. Inner south east (Windsor).

    On a Tuesday?? Prime crime time?

  • MementoMori on 20/01/2021 - 10:23
    +1

    Can hear one right now, 10:22am Wednesday, zooming around. Windows are shaking.

  • OzHunterNSW on 20/01/2021 - 10:27
    +1

    For some utterly ridiculous reason, they built a WestPac Rescue helicopter base in the middle of a city. Unfortunately, I live at a "visual-marker" (cross road/intersection) that the pilots use to possibly tag their GPS crap.

    So, each and every time these things take off or return, they fly low and specifically directly over my rooftop.

    One helicopter is so loud you can literally hear it coming thump thump thump form over 5k away.

    Who in their right mind thought this would be an appropriate place for a helicopter base?

    We have a major are base just north… 2min flight for these people… but no… they have to build it in the middle of a city.

    • Techie4066 on 20/01/2021 - 13:27
      +1

      There's reasons for everything, especially with strict aviation laws and restrictions on where you can fly and build infrastructure in relation to flight paths and other airports, and the traffic levels you can have. For something as essential as a rescue base, I'd say prioritising response times is important.

      I live at a "visual-marker" (cross road/intersection) that the pilots use to possibly tag their GPS crap.

      Tag their GPS crap? Lol. It's most likely a fix/waypoint if it's GPS related, otherwise it's a visual reference like you described (used as part of "VFR" flight, visual flight rules).

  • jv on 20/01/2021 - 14:34
    +3

    What are your thoughts

    I think you need professional help.

    • Zachary on 22/01/2021 - 15:21

      Is that a portrait of jules vern - the french novelist? Heard he wrote a lot of sci-fi novels back in the days…sci fi fan? Only heard about him watching an unrelated video recently and remembered his face and you happen to have his face….

  • AustriaBargain on 20/01/2021 - 18:18

    Do cops call them "airships" in Australia like US cops call their helicopters?

  • Drakesy on 20/01/2021 - 18:49
    +1

    I don't want to call you a Karen, but….

    If anything it's reassuring they're there, better they're there than them being on the ground not being used.

    Having said that i live near a hospital and have the medical helicopter coming and going ~2-3 times a day, honestly not phased.

    Just be happy you don't live directly under a flightpath/airport approach.

    NIMBY's at its finest.

  • Urban Warrior Ninja on 20/01/2021 - 19:32

    Why you complaining? They're there to do their jobs to stop crime, or at least deter crime from happening.

    They scare away the boogiemen so you can sleep soundly at night knowing the country is under control!

    • MementoMori on 21/01/2021 - 16:45

      Number of people annoyed > number of bogeymen scared

  • cloclo on 20/01/2021 - 19:48
    +2

    That would be the 3 new Leonordo AW139s that were recently added to the air wing fleet. VicPol is now spending 500 hours per month in the air instead of the previous 300.

    On a side note, if you ever find yourself inside the cockpit of one of those babies , this is how you get it started 😉

    • MementoMori on 21/01/2021 - 16:47

      Great information, thank you! (the hours, not the startup instructions - I'll stick to GTA for that!)

    • MementoMori on 21/01/2021 - 16:54

      FWIW 300 -> 500 is a 66% increase

      I feel justified saying 'massive' to describe it now

  • DiscoJango on 20/01/2021 - 20:51
    +1

    true story: sometimes the police chopper is called in if a nursing home resident wanders off. Kind of like a search and rescue gig.

    I just want to know, why their so loud? Is it some twin engine beast of a helicopter, as those joy ride helicopters are no where near as loud as the police choppers.

  • dufflover on 20/01/2021 - 21:05

    lol a poll and post full of assumptions to weight the whole thing.
    Yes they seem to around a lot more right over my area and sometimes a bit annoying but seriously, COVID? We're watching you intimidating patrols? Someone needs some pills … or to get off them.

    It would be nice though while doing their flights and training they do something about those hoons around with SPS.

    • MementoMori on 21/01/2021 - 16:49

      Well it all started with the lockdowns. And obviously they used the choppers to look for 5km breakers and 'monitor social distancing' (so yeah, they literally were/are watching us)

      I'm assuming a connection

      Do you have a better idea?

  • sendoor on 20/01/2021 - 21:20

    Harassing… seriously?
    There are modified engines roaming around our area and we needed to live with that.

  • RocketSwitch on 20/01/2021 - 21:49

    Nothing here.

    • MementoMori on 21/01/2021 - 16:55

      For the 80%, agreed

  • cashless on 20/01/2021 - 23:50
    +3

    In this WFH age, choppers are nothing.
    Far more annoying are:
    * Yapping dogs in neighborhood
    * Excessive power tool usage
    * Frickin birds & cicadas
    * Shouty, loud twats outside my place
    I mean FFS, I’m just trying to work & have a few Zoom/Team calls. Can you all just shuddup?

    • geekcohen on 21/01/2021 - 07:05

      I would rather a few Helicopters than yapping dogs.

    • RocketSwitch on 21/01/2021 - 23:02

      I live in a pro dog neighbourhood… lots of yapping and lots of shit on the front lawn

  • berry580 on 21/01/2021 - 07:31

    Have they been shining their spot light at your house specifically?

    • MementoMori on 21/01/2021 - 16:55

      No, haven't seen spotlight usage

      I assume they use thermal cameras

      And no I don't think they are watching me specifically… they are watching 'us' collectively, they tell us this

  • drilly on 21/01/2021 - 08:30
    +1

    You'll learn to ignore them eventually, people who live close to the airport stop hearing the planes after a while

  • Baysew on 21/01/2021 - 09:51

    I don't mind the helicopters that much, I just wish they didn't play Ride of the Valkyries so loud.

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