Durham Tees Valley Aiport’s police helicopter base is to shut, it has been announced.
The National Police Air Service (Npas) confirmed this morning that Teesside will no longer have a helicopter base from the 2016/17 financial year as a result of government funding cuts.
Newcastle International Airport’s base survives the cull, which will see Npas reduce its operating bases by 10 to a 15-base model.
It is not yet clear if the Tees Valley aircraft and staff will move to Newcastle.
The decision comes less than a year after DTVA opened a new purpose-built hangar for the Npas aircraft.
The accountable manager for the NPAS said “difficult decisions” had to be made because of funding cuts.
Chief Superintendent Ian Whitehouse, said: “There is no easy way of doing this and difficult decisions have to be made.
“This move will help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the service and mean that every base supports police forces 24hours a day. It is a move based on an analysis of potential threat, risk and harm to the public we serve.”
The decision comes less than a year after the airport opened a new purpose-built hangar for the Npas aircraft.
The 320 square metres facility was provided under a five-year agreement between the airport and the NPAS.
Cleveland was previously part of a regional air support unit with Durham and Northumbria. There were two helicopters based at Durham Tees Valley Airport and Newcastle Airport.
But Durham and Northumbria wanted to reduce it to just one aircraft. Cleveland opposed that idea, fearing the helicopter would be based at Newcastle.
In 2009 Cleveland then launched its own air service.
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