South Yorkshire Police gives explanation for plane in the sky above Sheffield

A statement from the police said: “Before the rumours of us spying on people to check for social distancing start, that is incorrect.

“The National Police Air Service is assisting us in searching for a male who has decamped from a stolen vehicle after a short pursuit near the city centre.”

A plane and a helicopter have been seen above Sheffield over the past few days, with residents complaining about the noise of the aircraft ‘hovering’ at night.

In both previous cases, South Yorkshire Police have denied accusations that the aircraft are being used to monitor whether or not people are adhering to social distancing guidelines during the coronavirus pandemic.