GWENT Police's helicopter cost almost £400,000 to run last year, the Argus can reveal.

The figures - released to this newspaper under the Freedom of Information Act - also show 74 arrests were made through using the helicopter.

It assisted them in making a further 35 arrests.

The helicopter, run jointly between Gwent and South Wales Police, was used a total of 672 times between April 2005 and March this year.

The helicopter was in the air for a total of 330 hours at a total cost of £383,657.25, which breaks down to £19.37 a minute.

As well as the arrests, it was used 111 times to search for vehicles taken without consent, and as a result 12 vehicles were recovered.

One of its main uses is to search for missing persons, a role it has played 108 times in the last year, locating 23 missing persons and helping to find a further 26 outside the search area.

It was also used to help after 68 burglaries, 32 traffic offences and 19 public order offences.

The most expensive incident was on May 4, when it took part in a three-hour training exercise in Newport at a cost of £3,583.77.

Superintendent Nigel Russell, head of Gwent Police's uniform operations division, said use of the helicopter is split between Gwent and South Wales, with Gwent having roughly 30 per cent of the use.

This is the first year the Gwent force has increased its flying time, with 25 additional hours.

Supt Russell said the cost was on budget and represented "excellent value for money".

"The reality is the helicopter is able to do things that would cost an incredibly large amount more in police officer time.

"It can do the same job as ten or 15 police officers in a third of the time. It allows police officers to use their resources elsewhere."

Supt Russell said the safest way to follow a stolen car was from the air, and the helicopter is able to quickly and safely search a large area for missing persons.

The two forces are currently in the process of purchasing a new helicopter that should be in use within 18 months, and be quieter and more cost effective.

Monmouth AM and MP David Davies said he supported use of the helicopter.

But he added: "I think the police need to carefully evaluate these figures to see whether this represents good value for money."