South Yorkshire Police Authority has reached agreement with the National Police Air Service (NPAS) to retain a helicopter based in Sheffield. The Authority had raised concerns that the initial NPAS proposals, announced last year, did not provide sufficient cover for South Yorkshire. Following negotiations with NPAS, the Authority has agreed in principle to join the national scheme on the basis that the coverage will be divided between a Sheffield-based aircraft and the NPAS. The Sheffield based aircraft will be available on a ten-hour shift for seven days a week, while the county will also have access to the national service operating on a 24/7 coverage from their NPAS bases outside South Yorkshire. The solution now offered by NPAS will not incur any additional costs compared with the current South Yorkshire Police helicopter service.

The National Police Air Service (NPAS) is an ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) led project aimed at enhancing the current service we have for less money. There are currently 33 aircraft at 30 different bases. These helicopters all belong to individual Police Authorities.

ACPO suggest merging these aircrafts into a single National Police Air Service. NPAS will have 23 aircraft operating from 20 bases. It is suggested that this will save £15m from the current overall spending of £66m.The NPAS model has been designed with the aim of providing a national service at 25% less cost by coordinating efficient and effective national air support. The 20 base model identified the closure of 8 Air Operations Units, including the Sheffield base, which would be absorbed into the national air service.

The table shows the current distances and the time (in minutes) that it takes for the helicopter to arrive at its destination from the existing base in Sheffield. Under NPAS proposals, South Yorkshire will be covered by three surrounding bases, at Carr Gate Wakefield, Humberside Airport, and Ripley Derbyshire. The table proves that the response times, to the majority of South Yorkshire, will be lengthened under these proposals to anything up to 24mins. In an emergency situation this may have major implications.  A report was taken to the Police Authority on 23rd September 2011. Members of the Police Authority were not convinced by the presentation and refused to join the National Police Air Service. The decision can be viewed in the video above. South Yorkshire Police Authority is still in negotiations with NPAS and ACPO on how the service can be altered to fit South Yorkshire's needs.

Since the decision was made on 23rd September 2011, South Yorkshire Police Authority has been in communication with the ACPO lead officer, NPAS and the Policing Minister Nick Herbert. In November, the Police Authority recieved a letter from CC Marshall requesting members of the Authority to reconsider their decision. The Police Authority has been in contact with the minister and the ACPO lead officer on several occasions and to date, members of the Police Authority are still not convinced by the NPAS business case and feel they are yet to recieve the necessary information they feel proves that South Yorkshire will have the same level of service for its people under the new service.

The Authority wrote to the ACPO lead officer as recently as 4th January 2012, requesting further information, for example:- the cost of having a base in Sheffield included within the service. The Police Authority has also written to all South Yorkshire MPs in order to gain their support on this issue. On 13th January 2012 members reiterated its commitment to securing a dedicated police helicopter service for the county and have now agreed to take this back to their local councils and involve cabinet ministers in order to achieve a resolution to the issue.

On 26th January 2012, Policing Minister Nick Herbert announced he is prepared to order forces that do not agree, to join NPAS. As a result of this announcement, the Minister entered into a period of consultation with Police Authorities.

The Chair of the Authority met with NPAS representatives in regards to the concerns and left the meeting with a clear indication that that they would provide a reasonable solution. On 17th February members of the Authority were updated on where we stood with the proposals. On Friday 9th March, the Authority received a number of alternative options in which to consider. Members noted and welcomed the progress made in the discussions with the National Police Air Service and seeks to achieve further progress in regards to deatiling these options. You can watch the recording of this meeting here.

Incident 916 03/02/2012

A Sheffield resident reported concern for 2 associates when they contacted him stating they were stranded on Kinder Scout in adverse weather conditions. Derbyshire were unable to resource and SY99 responded. After a protracted, difficult search the couple were located and air lifted back to South Yorkshire. Both required medical treatment for hyperthermia. The Actions and perseverance of the crew undoubtedly saved the lives of the yound couple.

Incident 626 30/11/2011

A report of a 12 year old girl taken against her will by 3 males, aircraft over scene in 6 minutes. Girl located by SY99 performing a "sex act" on one of the males whilst the other two looked on. Officers directed 3 arrested and girl taken to place of safety. From the 999 call being recieved to the males being located by the aircraft and arrested was 12 minutes.

Incident 803 04/04/2009

Assisted in escorting the East Midlands HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) to land at Weston Park due to pilot inexperience of landing at this site as well as taking father of victim to Sheffield Children's Hospital. A member of the hospital trauma unit stated that had we not got the HEMS to the location as fast as we did and if we had not gone immediately to the specialist children's unit at Sheffield but to Doncaster (as their contractors wished due to landing requirements), then the boy would definitely not have survived.

Wiltshire Plan to Keep their Chopper Flying

Dyfed-Powys Raise Concerns

Appeal to Save Herts and Beds Police Helicopter

Have your say on the Police Helicopter by tweeting us @SYPoliceAuth or by emailing haveyoursay@syjs.gov.uk

Page Last Updated 17/04/2012