Bomber ARIS
14th Feb 2004, 00:29
Police helicopter hopes 'grounded'
RICHARD BALLS
February 11, 2004 07:27
By Richard Balls
Crime Correspondent
Norfolk's Chief Constable Andy Hayman last night blasted Home Office funding policy on police helicopters as "draconian" and said it made the force's goal of having full-time air support "an impossible goal".
The force cannot afford to purchase a helicopter through a matched funding scheme, but the Home Office - which is financing its own headquarters with annual lease payments through a Private Finance Initiative - will not support the permanent leasing of a helicopter.
Mr Hayman said: "When you have a county the size of Norfolk and the coastline we have got, it is inconceivable that the Government would not want to support the provision of that level of air support.
"Does it take a tragedy for them to realise that we could have used a helicopter to help prevent it?"
The Chief Constable's remarks come as the force marks the 10th anniversary of air support in the county.
The aircraft - a Bolkow 105DB - is leased from Sterling Aviation at an annual cost of £320,000 and is based at Norwich International Airport. In the last 12 months alone has undertaken 546 flights and crews helped officers on the ground arrest 79 offenders and were directly involved in the arrest of another 39 people.
Twenty missing people were found thanks to the efforts of the crew, 25 stolen vehicles recovered and £181,720 worth of property traced, including drugs and stolen goods.
Speaking at a press briefing yesterday , Mr Hayman said the Home Office's funding arrangements for air support were "strangling" Norfolk police's ability to purchase its own helicopter and provide the kind of coverage it would like.
The Police Authority had been putting money in reserve for the purpose of funding full-time air support, but it could not meet the £1.5m required and that money would now be spent in other areas.
"We are indebted and grateful to Sterling because it allows us to have air support, but the funding arrangements coming out of the Home Office are draconian and are not linked in with what we would see as a practical solution," he said.
"The funding formula revolves around the police authority having to fund a percentage of the purchase price which is then supplemented by a grant from Government.
"With the problems that we already have around the police grant, our ability to fund the down payment and then release that money is limited, if nigh on impossible. We end up aspiring to something that is an impossible goal.
"Its seems incredible that the funding arrangements are so inflexible that a solution that would work in the private sector can't be applied to the public sector."
Air support was first introduced to Norfolk on February 24, 1994. The helicopter can travel at speeds of up to 125mph and can get to King's Lynn in 20 minutes, Thetford or Diss in 15 minutes and Yarmouth or Dereham in 10 minutes. Sterling provides the pilots, maintenance and fuel necessary for the day-to-day running of the aircraft.
It is fully police equipped and contains kit including video and thermal image cameras, radios, and a tracker. It also has a 'Nitesun' which is capable of lighting vast areas and 'Euronav' which assists with the its navigation.
Supt Bob Scully, who heads Operations Support, said: "Norfolk Constabulary is rightly proud of the Air Operations Unit. The ability to deploy a helicopter to critical incidents often ensures safe resolution.
"Whether due to providing an overall picture of the situation or allowing the monitoring of vehicles or persons at a safe distance, air support helps deliver an effective police response."
RICHARD BALLS
February 11, 2004 07:27
By Richard Balls
Crime Correspondent
Norfolk's Chief Constable Andy Hayman last night blasted Home Office funding policy on police helicopters as "draconian" and said it made the force's goal of having full-time air support "an impossible goal".
The force cannot afford to purchase a helicopter through a matched funding scheme, but the Home Office - which is financing its own headquarters with annual lease payments through a Private Finance Initiative - will not support the permanent leasing of a helicopter.
Mr Hayman said: "When you have a county the size of Norfolk and the coastline we have got, it is inconceivable that the Government would not want to support the provision of that level of air support.
"Does it take a tragedy for them to realise that we could have used a helicopter to help prevent it?"
The Chief Constable's remarks come as the force marks the 10th anniversary of air support in the county.
The aircraft - a Bolkow 105DB - is leased from Sterling Aviation at an annual cost of £320,000 and is based at Norwich International Airport. In the last 12 months alone has undertaken 546 flights and crews helped officers on the ground arrest 79 offenders and were directly involved in the arrest of another 39 people.
Twenty missing people were found thanks to the efforts of the crew, 25 stolen vehicles recovered and £181,720 worth of property traced, including drugs and stolen goods.
Speaking at a press briefing yesterday , Mr Hayman said the Home Office's funding arrangements for air support were "strangling" Norfolk police's ability to purchase its own helicopter and provide the kind of coverage it would like.
The Police Authority had been putting money in reserve for the purpose of funding full-time air support, but it could not meet the £1.5m required and that money would now be spent in other areas.
"We are indebted and grateful to Sterling because it allows us to have air support, but the funding arrangements coming out of the Home Office are draconian and are not linked in with what we would see as a practical solution," he said.
"The funding formula revolves around the police authority having to fund a percentage of the purchase price which is then supplemented by a grant from Government.
"With the problems that we already have around the police grant, our ability to fund the down payment and then release that money is limited, if nigh on impossible. We end up aspiring to something that is an impossible goal.
"Its seems incredible that the funding arrangements are so inflexible that a solution that would work in the private sector can't be applied to the public sector."
Air support was first introduced to Norfolk on February 24, 1994. The helicopter can travel at speeds of up to 125mph and can get to King's Lynn in 20 minutes, Thetford or Diss in 15 minutes and Yarmouth or Dereham in 10 minutes. Sterling provides the pilots, maintenance and fuel necessary for the day-to-day running of the aircraft.
It is fully police equipped and contains kit including video and thermal image cameras, radios, and a tracker. It also has a 'Nitesun' which is capable of lighting vast areas and 'Euronav' which assists with the its navigation.
Supt Bob Scully, who heads Operations Support, said: "Norfolk Constabulary is rightly proud of the Air Operations Unit. The ability to deploy a helicopter to critical incidents often ensures safe resolution.
"Whether due to providing an overall picture of the situation or allowing the monitoring of vehicles or persons at a safe distance, air support helps deliver an effective police response."