LANCASHIRE police helicopter crew has been celebrating after notching up more than 1,000 arrests.

The controversial machine took to the skies just over four years ago and has clocked up more than 6,000 flights.

Critics have claimed the £1.4 million helicopter is a waste of money and although police chiefs have refused to say how much is spent on keeping it airborne, experts estimate a figure of around £500,000 each year.

The cost translates to keeping two patrol cars on the streets of Lancashire for 24 hours every day of the year.

The man in charge of the helicopter unit says the aircraft can attend any incident within 15 minutes of receiving a call. The vast majority of people arrested in incidents involving the helicopter are linked to car crime.

More than 40 per cent of arrests involve car crime and 442 car thieves have been captured with the help of the helicopter. More than 200 burglars have found themselves behind bars thanks to the airborne unit and 81 people have been arrested for firearms offences.

Other tasks carried out by the helicopter and its crew include searching for missing people, airlifting accident casualties to hospital and helping deal with public order incidents.

Inspector Steve Fitzgerald is in charge of the 12-strong unit which includes pilots and trained observers. He said: "Operational officers we support recognise the important part the helicopter unit plays in many aspects of policing.

"The arrests have come about after good team work between the crew and ground controls. The helicopter makes action against car thieves safer for the police and the public, as well as aiding the arrest of the offenders."

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