Police may reduce air cover for Brighton and Hove

The police helicopter will take three times longer to reach Brighton and Hove than it does at present under plans to “nationalise” air support across the country.

The plan was discussed by Sussex Police Authority at a meeting yesterday afternoon.

The money-saving move is being proposed just a year after Sussex Police started sharing two helicopters between three forces.

The present deal involves Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire and formally took effect as recently as April.

Under the latest proposal there would no longer be a helicopter based at Shoreham. The nearest air base would be at Dunsfold in Surrey.

The current flying time to Brighton and Hove is about five minutes. From Dunsfold it would be about 15 minutes.

The police authority issued a statement after the meeting which said: “At its meeting on 13 October, Sussex Police Authority agreed, in principle, to support the introduction of the National Police Air Support (NPAS) in Sussex.

“These plans would see Sussex move from being served by the two aircraft of the South East Air Support Unit (SEASU) to being served by aircraft based in Surrey, Hampshire, Kent and Oxford.

“Members agreed to this recommendation but with some stringent caveats attached.”

Police authority chairman Steve Waight said: “Although we broadly support these proposals the authority has been very clear that it will not do so if there is any reduction in coverage to air support in Sussex.

“In order for the authority to consider whether the NPAS proposal provides value for money for the people of Sussex we will need to consider detailed information and be satisfied that there is no significant reduction in the current level of response times and aircraft coverage to be provided by NPAS.

“The authority will continue to look at these proposals in great detail and any further decisions will come before the full authority in due course.”