PSNI AFFITTA ELICOTTERO PER OPERAZIONE DI SICUREZZA
Per quattro volte la PSNI si è avvalsa di elicottero in affitto per operazioni di sicurezza nel Fermanagh
In una lettera a Basil McCrea del Policing Board, l’Assistant Chief Constable Dave Jones ha comunicato l’impiego in quattro occasioni (da aprile ad oggi) di un elicottero commerciale per fini di sicurezza.
Il costo totale dell’operazione ammonta a 52.000 sterline. La decisione di avvelersi di questo mezzo sembra sia stata presa a livello locale.
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PSNI spent £52K on private helicopter (NewsLetter)
The hiring of a private helicopter by police in Fermanagh has led to calls for operational support from the Army to deal with the threat from dissident republicans.
The Ulster Unionist MLA Tom Elliott described the cost of £52,130 for hiring the commercial helicopter on four occasions for security operations since April this year as “shocking”.
The PSNI, who currently own one helicopter, have however revealed that since August they have been leasing a second aircraft on a “short term basis”.
In a letter to Policing Board member Basil McCrea, the Assistant Chief Constable Dave Jones said the commercial helicopter had been chartered four times since April.
Mr Elliott, an MLA for Fermanagh and Tyrone, said he knew there would be a substantial cost involved in the use of commercial helicopters, but did not expect to see the “figure sitting at 12 to 13 thousand pounds for each operation”.
“Undoubtedly we are living in dangerous times. Police personnel are facing a severe threat from dissident republicans, and I would never under any circumstances want to do anything to put their lives at risk,” Mr Elliott said.
“However, I feel I have to question the continuing use of private helicopter firms as I believe that the use of military helicopters would be better-equipped and more cost effective for the operations carried out by the PSNI which require air support.”
In July, police took more than 12 hours to attend a robbery in Fermanagh because of the threat level from dissident republicans in the area.
Mr Elliott called for the permanent placing of a military helicopter in the region.
“Given that there have been four policing operations which required helicopter support in the last six months, I honestly feel there is a strong case for the permanent placement of a military helicopter to service the Fermanagh and wider area,” he said.
A police spokesman said he was “not in a position to comment” on the hiring of commercial aircrafts and costs, but revealed that the PSNI now had access to two helicopters.
“Police have been leasing a second helicopter since August in the short term, to meet specific operational requirements.”
It is understood that the second, leased helicopter will not be used solely on security operations.
The hiring of a private helicopter by police in Fermanagh has led to calls for operational support from the Army to deal with the threat from dissident republicans.
The Ulster Unionist MLA Tom Elliott described the cost of £52,130 for hiring the commercial helicopter on four occasions for security operations since April this year as “shocking”.
The PSNI, who currently own one helicopter, have however revealed that since August they have been leasing a second aircraft on a “short term basis”.
In a letter to Policing Board member Basil McCrea, the Assistant Chief Constable Dave Jones said the commercial helicopter had been chartered four times since April.
Mr Elliott, an MLA for Fermanagh and Tyrone, said he knew there would be a substantial cost involved in the use of commercial helicopters, but did not expect to see the “figure sitting at 12 to 13 thousand pounds for each operation”.
“Undoubtedly we are living in dangerous times. Police personnel are facing a severe threat from dissident republicans, and I would never under any circumstances want to do anything to put their lives at risk,” Mr Elliott said.
“However, I feel I have to question the continuing use of private helicopter firms as I believe that the use of military helicopters would be better-equipped and more cost effective for the operations carried out by the PSNI which require air support.”
In July, police took more than 12 hours to attend a robbery in Fermanagh because of the threat level from dissident republicans in the area.
Mr Elliott called for the permanent placing of a military helicopter in the region.
“Given that there have been four policing operations which required helicopter support in the last six months, I honestly feel there is a strong case for the permanent placement of a military helicopter to service the Fermanagh and wider area,” he said.
A police spokesman said he was “not in a position to comment” on the hiring of commercial aircrafts and costs, but revealed that the PSNI now had access to two helicopters.
“Police have been leasing a second helicopter since August in the short term, to meet specific operational requirements.”
It is understood that the second, leased helicopter will not be used solely on security operations.
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