The National Police Air Service of the UK (NPAS) is seeing the benefits of moving the former Dorset Police Air Support unit from its hq in Winfrith near Dorchester where it operated an MD902, to Bournemouth airport.

NPAS is a national body that replaces each regional police force's own air unit, a scheme set up to increase efficiency and reduce cost. Fleet and base numbers are to be reduced and each base is to provide support to several forces.

Each unit provides two shifts of pilot and police crew over a 16-hour day. The police complement is one sergeant and eight tactical flight officers, a significant drop in numbers from the Dorset set-up.

Alongside other units in the national network, Bournemouth is now responsible for the provision of air operations across a swathe of southern England.