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DYFED-POWYS Police's crime commissioner Christopher Salmon is being ordered to "come clean" on his position regarding the future of the force's police helicopter. It comes after information obtained by Plaid shows Mr Salmon did not oppose the scrapping of the helicopter or closure of the Pembrey base by the National Police Air Support (NPAS). However, Mr Salmon last night maintained his commitment to safeguarding the helicopter stating: "I'm fighting for the best possible police air service for the people of Dyfed-Powys. "The Chief Constable Simon Prince and I continue to discuss with NPAS over the needs of our communities. "I won't sign up for any service that doesn't meet the needs of our region or match what we're paying for." Despite his pledge, a Freedom of Information request from the office of Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP Jonathan Edwards and AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas has revealed Mr Salmon was "reluctant to oppose" the new NPAS model which will see the dedicated Dyfed-Powys helicopter removed from operation on January 1, next year. The minutes from a February NPAS meeting which Mr Salmon attended stated: "Christopher Salmon stated he was reluctant to oppose the model as he recognised this was the direction that NPAS needed to move in even though it appeared the agreement that Dyfed- Powys signed had changed." The force signed an agreement with NPAS in November to keep a chopper on-station at Pembrey following months of negotiations. But NPAS announced it is going to scrap 10 of its 25 bases, including Pembrey. Mr Salmon has publicly stated he is now fighting to retain it. However, in light of the information obtained by Plaid, AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas has set an ultimatum for him to decide whether he is committed to joining the fight to protect the helicopter. Mr Thomas said: "The residents of Dyfed- Powys will be left speechless by the explosive information contained in the NPAS strategic board minutes. Given his recent public statements it is almost inconceivable that the police commissioner was reluctant to oppose the loss of our dedicated police helicopter. Just six months ago the commissioner announced to huge fan fair that he had reached an agreement to secure the helicopter's future. Three months later, however, he sat in a meeting having been confronted with a change in that agreement and yet the minutes suggest he didn't put up one shred of opposition to losing the service that serves the people he is meant to represent. "Ultimately, the commissioner needs to decide whether he is on the same side as public opinion and prepared to join the campaign to protect the helicopter or whether he is more concerned in appeasing his Tory colleagues who are slashing police budgets and centralising services. "Christopher Salmon should consider a public apology for his woefully inadequate representation and come clean on whether backs the retention of the helicopter and base at Pembrey." Read more: http://www.carmarthenjournal.co.uk/Commissioner-told-come-clean/story-26573949-detail/story.html#ixzz3bQUgg9Jo Follow us: @Carmjournal on Twitter | carmarthenjournal on Facebook Source: Carmarthen Journal http://www.carmarthenjournal.co.uk/Commissioner-told-come-clean/story-26573949-detail/story.html
