CLEVELAND Police is likely to fly solo after Durham and Northumbria's decision to pull out of the North-East air support operation from next year.

And the chairman of Cleveland Police Authority, Councillor Dave McLuckie, criticised the two neighbouring forces for making the "indefensible" action, despite the offer of Government funding to maintain the two helicopters that serve the region.

Until Cleveland decided to go it alone, there would have been only one helicopter covering the three force areas from April next year.

Coun McLuckie said: "One thing is for sure, in an area such as Cleveland, with major crime and disorder challenges, together with the inherent risks of having so many high-risk industrial sites and the need to deal with a wide range of major incidents, we cannot afford to be without air cover."

In the 12 months to March 2008, the Air Support Unit undertook a total of 5,900 flights across the region, including 2,804 crime searches, 403 vehicle pursuits, 897 missing person searches and 66 search and rescue operations. It was involved in operations resulting in 949 arrests and recovery of property worth £645,870.

In Cleveland, the unit undertook 1,589 tasks - an increase of 9.2 per cent on the previous 12 months - including 901 crime searches, 151 vehicle pursuits, 216 missing person searches and 18 search and rescue operations. It was involved in operations resulting in 346 arrests and recovery of property worth £193,800.

Cleveland's Chief Constable, Sean Price, said: "One helicopter shared by the three forces would be incapable of meeting our operational requirements.

"Our officers and our public need, and deserve, the best service possible and air support is a vital part of that duty."