HC Deb 13 July 1992 vol 211 cc498-9W
Sir John Wheeler

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the contracts for each police force in England and Wales for the full-time or part-time use of helicopters; what is the availability for each area; and what is the annual cost in each area.

Mr. Charles Wardle

The operation of police air support units is a matter for chief constables. The table shows the information which is available centrally on the 14 air support units which operate helicopters.

It would not be in the operational interest of the police to disclose details of the availability of helicopters.

Air support unit Type of helicopter Owner Operator Maintenance Pilotage Estimated cost 1992–93 £000s
Sussex MBB BO 105 DBS-4 Police Aviation Services Sussex Police Police Aviation Services Police Aviation Services 707
Thames Valley Aerospatiale AS 355 F1 Police Aviation Services Police Aviation Services Police Aviation Services Police Aviation Services 500
Warwickshire Schweizer 300C Warwickshire Constabulary Warwickshire Constabulary Police Aviation Services Police Aviation Services 110
West Midlands Aerospatiale AS 355 F2 West Midlands Police Authority West Midlands Police Police Aviation Services Police Aviation Services 570
West Yorkshire MBB BO 105 DBS4 West Yorkshire Police Authority West Yorkshire Police Police Aviation Services Police Aviation Services 439
Wiltshire MBB BO 105D Police Aviation Services Police Aviation Services Police Aviation Services Police Aviation Services 490