West Midlands Helicopter is key to crime fight by police
West Midlands Police's helicopter has helped with the arrest of more than 500 people over the past year, new figures have revealed.
The force's aircraft has also played an integral role in recovering £641,000 worth of goods stolen by thieves.
Senior officers said the eye in the sky, which can cover up to two miles a minute, has become one of the most important tools that the force has in their fight against crime.
Sgt David Mitchell, from West Midlands Police Air Operations Unit, said: "The police helicopter has proven its worth time and time again.
"Where it adds value is the short time it takes to search any area, and in doing so frees up a number of police officers to conduct other urgent tasks. Its ability to track people and find property is also of great assistance to police and this is not only in relation to criminal activity.
"The aircraft has saved a number of lives this year by locating vulnerable or injured missing people. We also act as casualty transportation in life or death situations as Air Ambulance cannot work at night."
Figures released to the Express & Star have revealed that since January, the Eurocopter machine, which has the latest technology that includes a 30 million candlelight searchlight and high definition video thermal camera, located 27 missing people and assisted in the arrest of 537 suspects.
It carried out 3,689 different tasks, flying 1,362 separate flights and remaining airborne for 1,175 hours.
Earlier this month, Lee Riley, aged 44, of Walsall Street, Bilston, was jailed for 15 months after trying to break into the Tesco Express in Penn Road. He had led officers on an 11-minute car chase at speeds of up to 84mph but was tracked by the helicopter.
Footage released to the Express & Star today shows Riley and an accomplice being chased by officers throughout Wolverhampton. At one point, the passenger leans out of the car window and gestures towards officers in the helicopter.
But the chopper tracked Riley after he had dumped the car and made a run for it. He was chased by officers on foot, who were guided to his location by the helicopter and the heat-seeking equipment on board.
Meanwhile in August, Ben Westwood, 33, of Woden Road, Wednesfield, was locked up for nine years after driving at 180mph along the M6, which was caught on film by the helicopter camera. He was linked to a dozen smash-and-grab raids in the Midlands.
