Bumpy flight in bid to ground police copter; Anger at claim forces only need one aircraft.

Byline: By KERRY WOOD

POLICE chiefs are divided over plans to ground one of two crime-fighting helicopters.

The move by Durham and Northumbria Police has sparked outrage on Teesside, where the Cleveland force jointly funds the North East Air Support Unit.

Together the three North East forces help to run the two aircraft, one based at Newcastle and the other at Durham Tees Valley airport.

But officials in Cleveland are against scrapping the one remaining helicopter at the airport, claiming they are using it to fight crime more than ever.

Cleveland Police Authority chairman Dave McLuckie said he would fight plans to remove the aircraft.

The helicopters, costing pounds 3.47m a year, fly fewer than seven hours a day between them. One of them does not have an auto-pilot system and, under new Civil Aviation Authority regulations, will no longer be able to fly at night within two years.

However, Durham Police Authority chairman Peter Thompson said current use did not justify investing in a new aircraft. "We, along with Northumbria and Cleveland Police, have been in talks for some months and this is not a decision that has been taken lightly", he said.

"Based on operational need there is only a requirement for one helicopter. There will be no detrimental effect to the people and communities of County Durham and Darlington."

Durham's Assistant Chief Constable Michael Banks said while the helicopters were a good idea when they were first brought in, policing and crimes had changed.

He said: "We are constantly looking at crime and disorder incidents and the best operational means of tackling them. As a result we now have, for example, CCTV systems in our town centres and ANPR - the automatic number plate recognition system - that can track stolen and suspect vehicles.

"We have reviewed our use of the police helicopter over recent years and the operational needs of Durham Constabulary can be met by one aircraft.

"The shared use of one helicopter, on call 24 hours a day, will meet our demands without any significant detrimental impact.

"The air unit still has a vital role to play and provides us with an important resource. A helicopter will still be available to use when we need it."

Northumbria Police Authority chairman Coun Mick Henry said the decision to use just one helicopter had been made in the best interests of people's safety after considering how best to spend public funds to support policing.