Police watchdogs have raised concerns and are monitoring the situation closely after news that the Dyfed-Powys Police helicopter could be scrapped in 2014.

The Westminster Government proposes a National Police Air Service (NPAS) resulting in helicopter numbers in England and Wales being reduced by a third.

It is proposed that the Dyfed Powys helicopter will remain in service for the next two years and during this time a fixed-wing aircraft will undergo trials at a South Wales base.

Under the proposals Wales will be served from bases at Rhuddlan in Denbighshire and St. Athan in Glamorgan.

Government Policing Minister Nick Herbert said: “The plan has the full support of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) and will give all forces access to helicopter support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – in contrast to the current system which sees some force helicopters grounded for days at a time while they are being repaired.”

He added that he “hoped and expected” police authorities would rapidly endorse the proposals.

But Dyfed Powys Police Authority is not convinced the proposals would be of benefit.

A spokesperson said “Dyfed-Powys Police chief officers have formally raised concerns in terms of the amount of coverage the proposed structures of the NPAS would provide to such a rural area, and the impact of the proposals on the organisation as the police authority has recently invested £1.52m in a new state of the art air support base in Pembrey.

“These figures clearly demonstrate the operational importance and value of the helicopter in our force area especially in situations where a life could be at risk,” said the spokesperson.

Ceredigion County Councillor Haydn Lewis who has served on the Police Authority since 1996 and is a past chairman told the Tivy-Side “I think that before scrapping the helicopter we should seek a meeting with the Air Ambulance people to investigate the matter thoroughly.

“The reason for us having the helicopter is because it can land virtually anywhere while the fixed-wing plan can only land at certain locations,” he said.