I FIND it concerning that a Sussex Police helicopter could be moved from its base at Shoreham Airport to Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey (The Argus, October 17).

This would see a significant reduction in emergency cover for Sussex.

At present, the whole of Sussex can be reached within 20 minutes’ flying time.

Under plans to create a national police air service, the helicopter, known as the South East Air Support Unit, would leave up to 300,000 people in East Sussex outside of its 20-minute reach.

I think this is unacceptable. The effects on the community will be too great in my view.

As the helicopter carries a paramedic and is called out to airlift seriously injured people to hospital, I fear lives could be lost. Time is of the essence in emergency cases.

These often are, quite literally, life or death cases.

I am delighted the Sussex Police Authority, the panel of councillors and laypeople who oversee the running of the force have vigorously fought against these proposals.

Members, having been briefed that the creation of the national plan would leave only 80% of Sussex within 20 minutes’ reach, quite rightly opposed this.

If approved, it could save nearly £14 million nationally.

While I think money has to be saved, I do not think such a vital part of Sussex Police’s frontline operation should be moved away from the county.

This will result in the police being further hampered while trying to save lives, protect the public and property.

I hope plans to remove the police helicopter from Sussex will be reviewed and it will be decided that to go ahead would be detrimental for Sussex and its police force.

Steve Fuller, Rowan Avenue, Hove