POLICE today launched a drone over the skies of Cheshire to help in their fight against crime as well as operational work including searches for missing persons.

The Constabulary says its new piece of kit, The Matrice 300RTK, will be a powerful tool supporting officers to help keep communities safe.

But it has stressed the drone will not be used for general surveillance.

The UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) is under the charge of a recently-formed team of three officers and a sergeant who make up the Drone Support Unit based at the force headquarters in Winsford..

They will use the drone to help with a variety of tasks, including searching for missing and wanted people, taking aerial imagery and reconstruction of road traffic collisions as well as taking part in crime scene investigations.

The drone can also be sent over to monitor protests and disorder, identify cannabis farms and conduct event management planning

The newly qualified pilots have all received qualifications from the Civil Aviation Authority.

Chief Inspector Gareth Wrigley said: "I want to reassure the public that the drone will not be used for general surveillance and will only be used for incidents and operations.

"Having drone capability will make a huge difference in the way we protect vulnerable people and gather critical evidence at scenes. This will increase our tactical options to help make Cheshire even safer."

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, David Keane, said: "Police currently use the National Air Support Service (NPAS) for all its aerial requirements such as search and photography.

"Although manned aircraft will always be required for some operational activities, there are opportunities, such as when aerial photography alone is required, that drones would be more suitable, quicker to deploy and more cost-effective.

"The drone will bring huge benefits to frontline policing in Cheshire and I am really pleased that the force is now in a position to start using the drones on a day-to-day basis."