The police helicopter was called into action on Saturday to help search for a man wanted in connection with an assault.”

This report is among many featured over the past few weeks in the Telegraph & Argus, in which the role of the police helicopter has been highlighted.

“A police helicopter was scrambled to help search for a six-year-old boy who went missing from his Bradford home last night,” says another.

Used daily, the aircraft – an MD 902 Explorer – has attended 266 incidents in the Bradford district since it joined the National Police Air Service (NPAS) in April. Prior to the creation of this 24-hour, countrywide service, West Yorkshire Police operated its own helicopter. It is estimated that the move to a borderless national service will save up to £15 million annually and improve efficiency.

Housed in a purpose-built hangar at the Operational Support Service Department at Carr Gate in Wakefield, the West Yorkshire-based helicopter is one of five primarily covering the North-East region, the others flying from Newcastle, Durham, Sheffield and Humberside.

They are among a number – from January there will be 28 – of police helicopters across England and Wales, covering all forces and 98 per cent of the population.

West Yorkshire Police Authority is responsible for the delivery of this service nationally and central to operations is the control centre in Bradford’s Dudley Hill.

Police helicopters are used in the main for searching for suspects or missing people, reconnaissance ahead of planned operations, assisting in pursuits on the ground, and supporting public order operations, including through a live feed of video footage to commanders on the ground.

“The helicopter is a fast resource, with the capability of evidential recording,” says a spokesman for West Yorkshire Police.

Local incidents since April this year include two men shooting at animals with air rifles in Bolton Road area. The helicopter searched the area, spotting two men matching the description. Using the live feed, officers on the ground were directed to them and able to detain them. The video link helped officers to locate the air rifles, hidden under a rock.

Following a burglary in Great Horton, the aircraft located two people, guiding officers on the ground to them. Again, video evidence was taken. The helicopter was also used in Bierley when car thieves fled a stolen vehicle.

Working with divisional officers, roads policing officers and other departments, the aircraft - which flies at around 150mph – is an effective resource at tracking speeding cars, taking pressure off the officers on the ground pursuing, making it a safer operation.

“The whole point of air support is to make sure that we can do our job on the ground better and in a safer way,” says Superintendent Richard Watson, ground operations director for NPAS, who oversees the service nationally.

“There are certain jobs that can only be done with the helicopter, such as incidents involving rooftops and other incidents involving high places.”

In June, a rooftop stand-off between police and suspected burglars at a cannabis farm in Bradford involved the helicopter hovering low over the property as officers including dog handlers surrounded it. Five men were arrested.

“The areas we can search are significantly greater than those you can search on the ground, and particularly at night,” adds Supt Watson. “An area the size of a football pitch can be searched in seconds.”

He adds: “If someone has gone missing, maybe an elderly person who is ill or someone at risk of taking their own life, working with officers on the ground, we can find them very quickly.”

In Steeton in June, a man was reported missing from home. His mobile phone signal was traced to the nearest mast, giving an 8.1km radius which the helicopter searched. The man was found in his car. He had taken an overdose and was taken to hospital.

The aircraft uses thermal cameras to find people hiding by identifying heat sources – this could be a person, a vehicle, a building or an item of stolen property.

“The cameras are very sensitive and could pick up a heat source from a stolen item such as a car stereo that has been dumped while the police are in pursuit,” explains Supt Watson.

“Officers on the ground are directed by radio and can see the images from the helicopter, and we give a live feed to headquarters as well.”

Says Supt Watson: “They are bringing so much value to policing and allow us to use the people on the ground so much more effectively. If they save one person, you could argue they pay for themselves ten times over.”