Sponsored by
Police helicopter numbers to be cut
West Yorkshire Polcie helicopter
The Government wants to bring in a national police helicopter service.
Policing Minister Nick Herbert is announcing plans to replace each force’s helicopter with a national unit, saving £15 million.
The proposals wouid see the number of police helicopters and air bases across England and Wales slashed by a third.
There would still be a helicopter based in West Yorkshire.
Former chief constable of South Yorkshire Police Meredydd Hughes has claimed the densely populated city of Sheffield would suffer as the move would mean its nearest helicopters would be based in Derbyshire, Humberside and West Yorkshire.
But Mr Herbert says the National Police Air Service would provide forces with access to helicopters 24 hours a day, 365 days year, rather than a force’s helicopter being out of use for weeks for repairs.
“Chief officers of all forces in England and Wales have given their support to the proposal, as have the overwhelming majority of police authorities in principle,” he said. “But to get the full benefits, the commitment of the whole of the police service in England and Wales is needed.
“In exceptional cases of last resort, I am prepared to mandate arrangements where a small minority of authorities or forces creates a barrier to more efficient and effective policing. I am therefore announcing today that I intend to make an order requiring the police service to collaborate in the provision of air support.”
It is the first time the mandation powers, brought in under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, will be used.
There were 30 police air bases serving 32 aircraft, costing the 43 forces about £70 million a year, when the review of air support started in 2009. Under the plans this will be cut to 22 bases serving 22 aircraft - shaving £15 million off the air support budget.
Rather than each force having its own helicopter patrolling its region, the new national service will be responsible for the whole of England and Wales and be operated from one central command centre.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Man dies after falling from high-rise flats in Halifax
- Jewels boss ambushed in living room - Knifemen in masks hold Halifax family hostage
- Beer drinkers alarm over rising tide of pub closures across Calderdale
- New appeal over death of teenager who fell from flats in Mixenden.
- Pervert set to be sentenced
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Halifax
Thursday 23 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: West
Comments
There are 6 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
Bitterandtwisted
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 10:12 AMIts pretty basic, if there are less helicopters covering a wider area, then response times will be slower and the effectiveness of air support will be reduced. Why not just admit that this is purely to save money.
Parsley
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 11:14 PMBrilliant news.
Retitred Peeler
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 05:20 PMSo, two or more incidents happen at the same time. One in Halifax, one in Sheffield. Helicopters are good, very good but they can't be in two places at once. And God forbid if the incident is somewhere like Tod. No longer will we have this service.
Ticked off2
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 01:34 PM....but while its in Derbyshire, it cant be in West Yorkshire. Interesting the only voice of dissent is an EX Chief Constable. Heads and parapets.
faceless
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 11:40 AMpanic panic derbyshire is a stones throw from sheffield these things can be anywere in minutes
Ticked off2
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 10:28 AMCentalisation plans like this will have an adverse effect on all areas of the country. It's ridiculous to say that West Yorkshire will still have an aircraft based here...and not qualify it. Peak time demands are the same throughout the country....meaning that when we need one to respond to our problems, it will probably have been deployed elsewhere, or someone will have to decide which incident will take priority. Someone will loose out. Keep X99 for West Yorkshire. As for Chief Officers supporting the idea, they are all yes men who will not risk the wrath of the Home Office. Heads and parapets.
Page 1 of 1
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.