Funds hope for police helicopter

Two helicopters are based at Newcastle and Durham Tees Valley airports

The government could step in to help save one of the North East's police helicopters after the matter was raised in Parliament.

The North East Air Support Unit (NEASU) has two helicopters based at Newcastle and Durham Tees Valley airports.

But the Northumbria and Durham forces want to reduce the unit to one Tyneside-based aircraft to save money.

Home Office Minister Meg Hillier said £2.4m could be made available to help fund the £4.6m cost of a replacement.

Stockton MP Frank Cook, who tabled the motion, said: "The helicopter currently based in the north of the region does not have adequate auto-pilot facilities to meet new regulations and is set to be taken out of service by March 2010.

"However, the message from the minister was clear - there is flexibility in that date if agreement can be reached on funding a replacement and money may be available from government to help."

Speaking in the Commons on Tuesday, Ms Hillier said forces in other parts of the country had plans to replace their aircraft under the new regulations.

But the Northumbria and Durham forces believe the shared use of one helicopter can meet policing demands without any significant detrimental impact.

Their decision has sparked criticism from neighbouring Cleveland Police, which says a second helicopter is "vital".