The date has been set for when the nearest helicopter base to Preston is to be stood down.
AdvertisementPreston’s police helicopter – NPAS Warton – is being decommissioned and its final flight is to be on Wednesday 31 August.
Campaigners say they had been told the helicopter would continue operating until April next year.
Politicians have warned the withdrawl of the helicopter, leaving NPAS Barton at Manchester as the closest aerial support unit, leaves Preston and Lancashire more vulnerable to criminals.
In May last year a motion tabled by Ribbleton councillor Brian Rollo called for the city’s chief executive Lorraine Norris to write to the Homes Secretary about the issue.
He said: This will result in a sparse air policing service for the first time in over two decades and a greatly diminished loiter time for aircraft when they are deployed. That the effect on policing in Lancashire will be catastrophic.
“That additionally criminals from the areas of Greater Manchester Police and Merseyside Police forces will see Lancashire as a safer area to operate in and will transfer more of their activities up the motorways to Lancashire.”
Related: Stunning aerial pictures of Preston from the police helicopter
The Facebook page – Save the Lancashire Police Helicopter Base – said its post about the closure of Warton had reached more than 110,000 people with 1,012 people sharing the post.
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