THE Wiltshire police helicopter is a familiar and reassuring sight above our towns and villages and its role both in terms of crimefighting and as an air ambulance is a vital one.

But we will not be the only peop;le to question it being used to chase a shoplifter who stole a £100 DVD player from Safeway in Devizes.

The helicopter costs hundreds of pounds an hour to fly, is this really an efficient use of taxpayers' money? It seems particularly ludicrous given the lack of will to support traders' please for CCTV in Devizes. Surely cameras would be cheaper?