Police aircraft marks three years

Helicopter used to search for suspects and missing people

The Cambridgeshire Police helicopter found 51 missing people and helped recover £1.5m worth of property in its first three years, a report reveals.

Since it was introduced in June 2006, the £3.9m aircraft has flown 1,666 hours and searched 10,000 sq km of land - an area the size of The Gambia.

The aircraft's operations have directly resulted in 308 arrests and it has assisted in 140 more, a spokesman said.

It carried out 77 pursuits and 2,300 hunts for suspects or missing people.

The police unit is situated at RAF Wyton from where the helicopter can reach Peterborough or Cambridge in about seven minutes at speeds of up to 150mph.

By working closely with the Mid-Anglia General Practitioner Accident Service paramedics and doctors can be at the scene of an incident within minutes.

Sgt Gordon Murray said: "Now that the aircraft is in its third year of service it's still able to deliver the technological support and assistance that is expected of such a unit.

"And whilst I appreciate the air operations unit is an expensive asset within the constabulary, it's an asset that a modern police service can ill afford to do without."