A police helicopter will still be based at Filton airfield - when the new National Police Air Service is launched.

From July next year Avon and Somerset police will be sharing an aircraft with the rest of the South West..and there will be 21 other bases across the UK.

The police say the idea's to create a borderless service which will ensure there is flexible, effective coverage for both urban and rural areas.


Plans for the National Police Air Service were announced in October 2010 and will allow police forces across England and Wales to save around £15m a year. Currently there are 30 police air bases serving 32 aircraft but under the plan there will be 22 bases each hosting air support. Recently West Yorkshire Police Authority agreed to become the lead force for the National Police Air Service.

The new service brings an added benefit of offering multiple aircraft able to respond over the force area whereas in the past this was rarely possible.