CHESHIRE Police are to deploy their new drone over Crewe this weekend as part of their offensive against Christmas crime.

The Matrice 300RTK drone, which was introduced by the force to help with its policing operations last summer, will be put into the skies tonight (Friday) and tomorrow evening in four of Cheshire's largest towns as part of Operation Jingles.

Police say it will used as an extra tool to "help keep communities safe" and will enable chief officers to divert resources to where they are most needed. By seeing a much larger area in one picture they will be able to respond more quickly and efficiently.

Cheshire Police Superintendent Laura Marler said: "We are focusing our resources to meet the demands of the busy Christmas and New Year period and this year we will be using our new technology drone to support policing.

"This is no different from the CCTV which you always see in operation throughout our town centres. But the drone enables me to see where the busy areas are and where I can move resources to much more effectively."

As well as Crewe, the drone is set to go up over Warrington, Chester and Macclesfield.

It is operated by uniformed police officers who are authorised by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Three officers and a sergeant were recruited and trained back in August order to form the force's drone support unit.

As well as assisting with searches it can used to take aerial imagery as part of crime scene investigations and for event planning.

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Cheshire Police stress they will also have extra officers on the ground too as part of the Christmas operation and are urging people to report any concerns they may see.