Alex Marshall from Hampshire Police was speaking ahead of the launch of the new National Police Air Service (NPAS) today, which it is hoped will cost millions less than the current localised system.

The senior officer, who is leading the scheme for the Association of Chief Police Officers, said drones can stay in the air longer and would be cheaper than running manned aircraft.

“We don’t use them in mainstream policing at the moment but they may well offer something for the future,” Mr Marshall said. “They can stay up longer, they’re cheaper, they can do things that you can’t do having people in the air.

“But the Civil Aviation Authority for example, doesn’t allow the use of drones out of line of sight, and there are other restrictions on using them.