Warwickshire Police may have to foot a six figure bill to buy a new helicopter.

The machine used by Leicestershire and Northamptonshire crashed three months ago killing one officer, injuring the pilot and another policeman.

The three forces which run the East Midlands Air Support Unit have been using a borrowed helicopter from the Essex and Cambridgeshire constabularies but will have to pay out to buy a new machine after an insurance shortfall.

Insurance cover will contribute £1.6 million towards a new machine but that is £600,000 short of a fully equipped police helicopter, which has to be fitted with cameras, thermal imaging equipment and searchlights.

Central government may be able to pay £250,000 towards the cost with the residue being funded by the three forces – which are all cash strapped.

The decision whether to buy a new machine rests with Leicestershire’s assistant chief constable David Coleman and is expected in the next couple of months.

Helicopters are used by most forces across the country for a wide range of jobs and, according to Chris Fox, Northamptonshire Chief Constable, save money.

He said:

"The helicopter produces two types of benefit. First a saving to three forces, principally by reducing the number of officers needed and, secondly, a wider benefit to society by reducing the number of deaths, injuries and motorway delays.

"Leicestershire Police have estimated that the annual savings to forces from deploying the helicopter at £1.7 million and the savings to society at £10.7 million. The saving to the consortium forces is therefore the equivalent of 30 police constables."

In the weeks following the accident, which happened when the machine hit power lines near its Market Bosworth base, the three counties had to rely on the co-operation from other forces but the hire arrangement with Essex and Cambridgeshire has bridged the gap.