LIVES could be put at risk if a police helicopter is moved to Surrey, it is warned.

The panel which oversees Sussex Police has voted to oppose a “significant reduction” in emergency cover under plans to create a National Police Air Service.

The scheme would see the police helicopter based at Shoreham Airport moved to Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey, leaving up to 300,000 people in East Sussex out of 20 minutes’ reach by air.

Sussex Police Authority – the panel of councillors and lay people which oversees the running of the force – fought against a significant reduction in the range or response times of aircraft if a national police air service is created.

The police helicopter, known as the South East Air Support Unit, carries a paramedic and is called out to airlift casualties to hospital as well as to help police search the ground from the sky.

At the moment 100% of the county can be reached within 20 minutes’ flying time.

Members were briefed that the national plan would leave only 82% of the county within 20 minutes’ reach.

The plan needs approval from police authorities for individual forces and could save an estimated £13.97 million nationally.

Conservative councillor Peter Jones, who represents Northern Rother on East Sussex County Council, said the first ten minutes after incidents are crucial.

He said: ““It would be dangerous for us to support the proposals as they stand. We could be putting the lives of people at risk in a way they are not at the present time.”

Coun Ben Duncan, a Green cabinet member on Brighton and Hove City Council, said the national police air service’s only benefit was about cutting costs, while services were put at risk.