New police planes make it harder for criminals to hide in South Yorkshire

The aeroplanes, based at Doncaster Sheffield Airport, have been added to the National Police Air Service’s existing fleet of helicopters to boost ther air support service available to the 43 police forces of England and Wales.

HEALTH: Pupil at South Yorkshire school self-isolating after parent contracts coronavirus

The fleet is shared between forces, with aircraft deployed to incidents including searches for suspects, missing people and police pursuits.

Two of the four planes have responded to 100 tasks across the UK over the last two months.

APPEAL: Police growing ‘increasingly concerned’ for safety of missing Sheffield woman

Doncaster Sheffield Airport is home to one of 14 National Police Air Service bases, with NPAS responding to 20,000 incidents every year.

Ian Vause, Assistant Operations Director for the National Police Air Service, said: “Providing a unique aerial view to police officers on the ground, the addition of aeroplanes to the National Police Air Service helicopter fleet has already boosted our ability to respond to policing needs across the UK.

“Supporting the location of suspects and vehicles, of vulnerable missing people and the policing ‘command and control’ of large public gatherings, such as sports matches and other events, air support is a vital tool in combating crime and disorder and keeping people safe.

“We save local police time when it really matters and I am delighted to be able to do this more often and in more locations through the addition of this new arm to our fleet.”‎The National Police Air Service was formed in October 2012.