Police helicopter base on Shropshire border to close in cutbacks

The National Police Air Service, which provides flight support to police forces across the country, recently confirmed it was closing 10 of its 25 bases from January 1.

It means the helicopter used to jointly serve West Mercia Police, Staffordshire Police and West Midlands Police, will now be based in Birmingham instead of at Halfpenny Green Airport near Bridgnorth.

The nearest aircraft available will attend requests for assistance instead of individual forces owning and operating their own helicopter.

The police helicopter which covers Mid Wales has officially been taken out of service.

The operations of the Dyfed-Powys Police helicopter were taken over by the National Police Air Service at midnight on Thursday.

The Pembrey base in Carmarthenshire, where the force helicopter was based, will be retained as a "forward operating base" for now, although aircraft will not be stationed there.

Dyfed-Powys Police's commissioner Christopher Salmon said it would still mean 24-hour air cover for the region. The nearest helicopters will now be based at St Athan, in the Vale of Glamorgan and Hawarden in Flintshire.

The new arrangements will cost £890,000 a year from January – about £275,000 less than in 2014/15. It comes as the local service transfers from forces in Wales and England to the national service.

The crew tweeted: "After 20+ illustrious years it is now time for X99 to bow out, can we thank everyone for their support and we wish you all a Happy New Year."

When the announcement was made, Mr Salmon said he was "fighting for the best possible police air service for the people of Dyfed-Powys".

Fighting

He said: "The chief constable and I continue to discuss – with NPAS – the needs of our communities.

"I won't sign up for any service that doesn't meet the needs of our region or match what we're paying for."

More than 1,000 people signed a petition calling for the helicopter to stay at the base.

Mid Wales Lib Dem MP Mark Williams said: "The former Dyfed-Powys Police Authority had voiced its opposition to the removal of a dedicated helicopter and it also rejected the idea of a cheaper fixed wing aircraft.

"This invaluable service served 4,188 square miles of sparsely populated territory.

"Time considerations really matter."

Police helicopters are normally called out to help police find missing people or help in the capture of suspects using thermal-imaging camera which detect body heat while crews direct officers on the ground.

Chief Superintendent Ian Whitehouse, from the National Police Air Service, said: "We need to find further substantial financial savings with a target of 14 per cent of revenue cuts over the next three years. This is on top of the 23 per cent savings already made.

"Local police forces facing similar savings are looking at how they rationalise their estate and ways of operating and the National Police Air Service is no different in this regard.

"A review will be conducted to ensure the agreed operating model is appropriate and provides the level of service that chief constables have agreed would be in place.

"This move will help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the service and mean that every base supports police forces 24 hours a day."

Staffordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis said air support had sometimes been called in for seemingly innocuous incidents.

"I think there was an episode a while ago in the county when the chopper was pulled in to help find a missing pet which clearly is not the best use of a £1500-an-hour resource," said Mr Ellis.

"I welcome the move to Birmingham because it means local forces will have to better prioritise and make sure air support is used properly and in the most efficient way."

He added that Staffordshire's 'more rural' areas might find police helicopter support may take a 'few minutes longer than normal' but urban areas would not 'feel any difference.'

Superintendent Mick Boyle, head of operational services for Staffordshire Police, said: "The closure of the National Police Air Service bases should have no effect upon the service we deliver to the people of Staffordshire.

"Despite the reduction in the numbers of bases, we will still be able to request assistance from a helicopter crew as and when we need it."