John Orr: "Serving the public"

It has a video camera which can lock on to suspected criminals, an infra-red system and powerful spotlights for working at night.

Demonstrating the targeting system, operator George McNicol said: "When I have the target in the middle of the screen, I can facilitate auto tracking that locks onto the target on screen.

"The pilot can fly a figure of eight around the target and the auto tracking would continue to lock on.

"I still have the facility to zoom in and pick out the rear number plate (of a car) if I need to.

"If I want to, I can go further in and identify the two men that got out of the vehicle."

'State-of-the-art'

The helicopter also has computer mapping facilities that mean the aircraft can travel automatically to any address once it is logged into the system.

Mr Orr said the decision to buy the helicopter was supported unanimously by the Strathclyde Police Board.

He said: "It is about serving the public, it is about saving life, it is about catching criminals.

"More than all of that, it is providing a service to the public so that we are not selling them short.

"It is state of the art equipment in a modest way.

Violence 'increase'

"This is the best helicopter currently in use in the United Kingdom and maybe even further than that."

Scottish Socialist MSP Tommy Sheridan, however, was critical of the decision to spend the money on a new helicopter.

He said: "The single biggest worry of the citizens of Glasgow is the rise in violent crime.

"I'm afraid that a helicopter in the sky is not going to prevent crime on the ground.

"It may detect crime, yes, but it won't prevent it.

"What we need are policemen on the street. That may prevent more crime."