THE National Police Air Service (Npas) has been accused of misleading the public over its ability to provide rapid response cover for much of the region, following the proposed closure of its Tees Valley base.

The North Yorkshire and Cleveland police federations have called on Npas to detail the cover available if the Durham Tees Valley Airport centre closes after concerns that police helicopters may be unable to pursue criminals across vast areas of North Yorkshire and Cleveland, and some areas of County Durham, within target times.

According to maps, said to be produced by police helicopter pilots who are opposed to the cuts, the remaining bases at Newcastle and West Yorkshire would leave much of the region outside the 25-minute target time for fast response incidents.

Announcing the proposals last week, Npas published a map showing helicopters leaving Newcastle or West Yorkshire bases would be able to reach anywhere in the region within 30 minutes.

As Npas held talks with the national police federation yesterday (Friday, February 27), a number of serving and former officers - including former North Yorkshire police officer Mike Pannett - said the Npas map was misleading.

They said it did not highlight the fact that police helicopters only have a 90-minute flight time before they must refuel or the time taken to brief crews and set off.

Mr Pannett said: "In reality, there is going to be a total lack of helicopter coverage for priority calls across huge swathes of North Yorkshire and the North East.

"The reduced number of bases under the new Npas model is focused on the denser populated cities and anywhere outside of those areas is wildernesses as far as policing from the skies are concerned."

Mike Stubbs, chairman of North Yorkshire federation, said his group intends to send an open letter to residents of the county to highlight its concerns.

He said: "I don't know who is telling the truth as there are clear differences between the maps, but we would welcome clarification from Npas on that."

An Npas spokesman said: "We have published our maps and stand by the methodology used.

"The response times would be from a standing start from a base, but invariably aircraft are deployed to incidents from elsewhere other than bases which is the principle of borderless tasking.

"The fixed wing aircraft will also be patrolling so could actually be deployed quicker than any rotary aircraft if already airborne."