There is a BBC News report that states that the Dyfed Powys helicopter is to stay.
It says the Dyfed-Powys Police helicopter will stay but then goes on to acknowledge that the AgustaWestland A109E currently operated is to go and be replaced by an EC135 the very type the region rejected a decade ago. What will former CC Ray White think of that!
What will stay is the base at Pembrey, Carmarthenshire.
In line with NPAS manning levels staff at Pembrey will be cut from nine to seven as the base is transferred. They were grossly undermanned before!
A separate report suggested that the Pembrey operation was to be 24-hour but the manning level suggests that may be a misunderstanding as the current staffing level which is to be reduced would not support that so it is simply adding the 24 hour NPAS cover [apointments may be necessary] that is not on offer at the moment.
Whichever way you look at this it appears to be a massive climb down by NPAS but I suspect there is a time rated clause in the paperwork that quietly expires at the next PCC elections!
Politics
