Police in the northeast city plan to take their law enforcement methods to a new high with the renting of a patrol helicopter.

"Improving police facilities will greatly improve our response and overall fighting capability," Chen Wanqing, from the information office of Shenyang Public Security Bureau, told China Daily last week.

The helicopter, a Eurocopter EC-135, has been rented for 800,000 yuan (US$100,000) per month from a company for the next two years.

"Concerned about the high cost of equipment and personnel training, we chose to rent rather than buy. This is more economic," Chen said without elaborating.

The lightweight twin-engine helicopter is capable of carrying 1 pilot and 6 to 7 passengers, with a maximum take-off load of 1.4 tons. Its maximum speed is 278 kilometres per hour.

Shenyang is the one of first cities in the northeastern region to introduce a police helicopter. There are currently 20 police helicopters on the mainland, in cities including Shenzhen and Zhengzhou.

Chen disclosed that the police bureau would establish its own airborne patrol squad and pick staff from former air force servicemen.

The helicopter is being kept at Taoxian Airport while more helipads are constructed downtown.

The municipal police bureau said the helicopter would help direct ground traffic, arrest criminal suspects, support disaster-relief campaigns and deal with other emergency activities.

"The helicopter can reach any point in Shenyang in 20 minutes," said Ma Dechi, the pilot.

"Police helicopters can monitor 15 times as large an area as ground police, so it will greatly help reduce crimes like robbery, theft and other street crimes," according to Chen.

(China Daily July 24, 2006)