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.
