Greater Manchester's over-stretched health service is set to be hit by a wave of patients battling a new addiction to opioids, doctors have warned.
25.03.2022 - 16:45 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Crime-fighting aeroplanes are preparing to patrol the skies above Greater Manchester, helping to track and catch villains below. The National Police Air Service has confirmed its four fixed-wing aircraft will now be deployed across the region, the Manchester Evening News can reveal.
Initial flights have taken place, with a police plane up for five hours on Thursday night covering areas across Greater Manchester. Dedicated aircraft patrols are set to start in earnest from next month.
The four planes - each capable of covering a range of 800 miles - have traditionally only served the North East region of the country since 2020. But the National Strategic Board, which governs the National Police Air Service (NPAS), announced in February it had taken the decision to extend the service provided by its fleet to support policing operations across England and Wales.
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The planes will complement police helicopter patrols already flying the skies across the region. Crewed by a pilot plus a tactical flight officer, the aircraft are kitted out with the same mission equipment as police helicopters.
They carry a specialist camera, a mapping system, downlink transmitters and have UK-wide radio communications. Once in flight, they can remain airborne for around eight hours.
The news will be welcomed by officers - as helicopter support has proved crucial in tracking and filming suspects from the air. Helicopter team often guide officers on the ground to the location of suspects, and capture vital evidence used against them in court cases.
The planes, said NPAS, will also be used to cover large-scale public events from the skies, monitoring crowds and liaising with cops on the ground in the event of any issues. Police chiefs
Greater Manchester's over-stretched health service is set to be hit by a wave of patients battling a new addiction to opioids, doctors have warned.
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