Police to save money on helicopters

A NEW cross-border police helicopter service, which will cover Warrington, is expected to mean considerable savings for police.
The new regional police air operations service, North West Police Helicopters, aims to offer the region a “flexible, cost-effective, cross-border helicopter fleet.”
North West Air Operations Group is a regional collaboration between five forces and police authorities and will operate four helicopters. It will dispatch the aircraft from a regional command desk to incidents across Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside and North Wales.
Officers say it will mean savings and an improved service. They say the benefits will mean that the closest helicopter can be deployed and if there are two incidents within one force’s area then two helicopters can be used.
The new arrangement also prepares the North West for the National Police Air Service, which is set to launch next year.
Chief Superintendent Guy Hindle said: “The new arrangement for police helicopters in the North West prepares us for the future of air support nationally, while offering a high-quality, flexible, cross-border service with the ultimate aim of making the North West a better and safer place.”
Chairman of Cheshire Police Authority Margaret Ollerenshaw said: “The new regional Air Operations Group is a great example of how collaboration between the North West’s police authorities and forces can result in both savings and a better service.”