A YEAR after the Clutha disaster Glasgow's top police officer spoke for the first time about the horror that claimed three of his colleagues' lives.

Speaking exclusively to the Evening Times, Chief Superintendent Andy Bates, relived the moment he heard the news.

In his first interview about the helicopter crash he paid tribute to those who died and praised the courage of the emergency services.

He said: "As we approach the first anniversary our thoughts first and foremost are with the families, friends and colleagues of all the victims."

On the night of November 29, last year, the force helicopter dropped out of the night sky and crashed on to a packed Glasgow pub.

Within minutes a major incident response was under way and Mr Bates' phone rang.

He said: "I can't remember the exact words of the duty officer at force overview, but he told me the force helicopter had been involved in a tragic incident.

"As soon as I heard those words, obviously it became more personal.

"You have a few moments of shock and disbelief.

"But that quickly slips into professionalism. You can't allow yourself to dwell on the fact your colleagues are involved. You have to detach yourself and deal with the incident as a professional.

"You have to focus and not allow yourself to become emotional."

After hours of painstaking work a silence descended over the dozens of rescue crews.

Word spread among them that all the victims within the shattered Clutha Bar had been located and hope of any other survivors had been lost. Exhausted emergency services downed tools and stood to attention.

As the black mortuary vans prepared to leave the site, an honour guard of police, paramedics and firefighters saluted. Police, who had lost three of their own, stood shoulder to shoulder as the last bodies were slowly driven away.

Mr Bates said: "The most important thing for the emergency services was protecting life.

"But what started off as a rescue operation, became an inquiry.

"The Clutha incident was the first big test for Police Scotland and the response from all the emergency services was exceptional.

"The leadership we had - right from the top with the chief - meant we maintained a level of professionalism throughout."

Contact with the helicopter was lost at 10.22pm on November 29.

For the police on the ground - and Mr Bates - there was no way of knowing how many people were inside The Clutha.

The only certainty was that pilot David Traill, PC Tony Collins, and WPC Kirsty Nelis were on board.

Their names will always now be linked with the other victims - Robert Jenkins, 61, Mark O'Prey, 44, Colin Gibson, 33, John McGarrigle, 57, Samuel McGhee, 56, Gary Arthur, 48, and Joe Cusker, 59.

Mr Bates said: "This was an incident on an unprecedented scale."

It was a devastating event and he said he had never known anything like the disaster in his three-decade police career. The tragedy hit home when Mr Bates visited The Clutha.

But the Chief Superintendent today praised the "exceptional" response of those involved on the night and in the aftermath - the emergency services, Glaswegians and local businesses.

"While we all worked long hours some of my colleagues had to endure horrendous conditions for a period of time. They had a much tougher job than I ever did and worked in much more difficult circumstances than I can imagine.

I WOULDN'T wish an incident like this on anyone but everyone involved stepped up to the plate.

"There was an outpouring of grief in Glasgow, but there was also an outpouring of generosity."

At 10.15am on December 3, 2013, the Police Scotland helicopter began to rise out of the wreckage.

An eerie silence fell as dozens of spectators watched the aircraft being inched out by a massive crane. This became one of the defining images of the disaster.

Mr Bates said: "Within days, the site was sealed, road closures were removed, and Glasgow began to return to some kind of normality.

"But, obviously it has had a lasting impact on the city."

Mr Bates also spoke about the lasting impact the Clutha crash has had on the "police family".

He said: "It didn't make any difference to us that David was a contractor, all three were part of the police family. But everyone rallied together, focused, and carried out the rescue and recovery operation professionally."

Police Scotland Chief Constable Sir Steve House also praised the "phenomenally good" response of those involved on the night and in the aftermath.

He paid tribute to the pilot and police officers for the "important contribution" they had made to the communities they served.

Mr Bates also revealed the helicopter's call sign, SP99, has been retired.

He said: "The family and friends of those who died will think about what happened every day.

"The police have had to move forward.

"But, coming up to the first anniversary is a poignant time and what happened is in everyone's thoughts."

rebecca.gray@eveningtimes.co.uk