POLICE are tracking in the skies those suspected to have stolen cars - in a bid to make pursuits safer.

Temporary Inspector Phil Norman, of the South and East Wales Air Support Unit, says the force's helicopter is able to safely follow a stolen vehicle instead of having "an old fashioned pursuit by police car".

He said: "Once the helicopter is overhead, we pull the traffic cars out of sight and we video what is happening, giving commentary to the control room on the direction the vehicle is heading.

"Officers on the ground are then deployed to that area. "No vehicle on the road is able to outrun the helicopter. We can travel at 150 to 160mph and we don't have to go around corners."

Since Operation Maple began, the helicopter, which is shared with the South Wales force, has been involved in eight such pursuits. Temp Isp Norman said: "Whenever Maple is running, the air crew are fully briefed by the officer running a particular operation.

"On the day, we stand by at base in Cardiff or we deploy closer to the site where incidents are taking place.

"We'll stay on the side of a secluded mountain if it's in the north of Gwent, waiting for a call."

From taking a call in Cardiff, it takes the helicopter crew just five minutes to get to Newport and 12 minutes to get to Monmouth.

Temp Isp Norman said: "There was an incident in Newport where a stolen vehicle failed to stop for traffic officers. The aircraft responded and took over the follow of the vehicle which allowed traffic officers to drop back out of sight, reducing the danger to other road users and the people in the stolen vehicle.

"Three people were arrested and the stolen car was recovered. "And the whole manner of driving was recorded on the aircraft's thermal image camera which can produced as evidence in court."

The events recorded on the camera are relayed to the control room as they are happening, so the supervisor is kept updated. The helicopter also has a moving map system to aid navigation, a tracker to trace stolen cars fitted with a tracking device, and a loud speaker.

CWMBRAN residents can take part in a free steering lock trial. Car owners who have received a letter about the initiative from their crime prevention officer can claim their steering lock from Cwmbran police station between 4pm and 6pm tomorrow.