CLOSURE OF DYFED POWYS HELICOPTER BASE AT PEMBREY

That this House notes that Dyfed Powys is the second largest geographical police force area in the UK; recognises the importance of helicopter capacity for the effective policing of an area which amounts to over half of the Welsh landmass, covering over 4,000 square miles; further notes that search operations by helicopter are far more efficient than on foot, with the cost per square mile by helicopter at £160 within a 12 minute period, whilst the same operation undertaken on the ground would take 12 officers 454 hours at a cost of over £4,000; further notes that the Dyfed Powys Police and Crime Commissioner had a written agreement with the National Police Air Service (NPAS) in November 2014 that the Pembrey base would be retained; expresses concern at the decision by NPAS to close 10 of the current 25 helicopter bases across the UK, including Pembrey; and calls on the Government to intervene to overturn this decision.