Police have grounded an experimental mini-helicopter after they were warned it was "flying without a licence" in the Liverpool City Region
Merseyside Police scored a first when a man was arrested after a stolen car chase thanks to the use of the remote-controlled "drone" fitted with a thermal imaging camera.
But publicity surrounding the arrest has led to an investigation by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA.
Senior officers said they had been unaware of new regulations that meant flights of the #40,000 Aerial Unmanned Vehicle (UAV) come under the jurisdiction of the CAA.
The force said all flights of the craft had been suspended until the necessary licence is obtained.
Merseyside is one three UK forces experimenting with use of the mini-helicopters that have a range of two miles and can fly to heights of 500 feet.
Officials from the CAA's Aviation Regulation Enforcement Department are investigating the use of an unlicenced drone by Merseyside Police.
Police used the drone to pursue two suspects in a Clio when it as reported stolen in Bootle on 26th January.
Officers arrested a 20-year-old at the scene, and used the drone to track a 16-year-old who was found lying in undergrowth alongside a canal in thick fog.
A spokesman for Merseyside Police said: "Over the past year Merseyside Police has engaged with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), as part of the unmanned aerial systems working group, to ensure that the Force's use of its Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) complies with current and anticipated CAA regulations.
"The CAA introduced new statutory regulations on 1st January 2010 which requires all UAVs to be licensed by the CAA before use.
"Since the force has known of the change in regulations all UAV flights have been suspended and will remain so until the appropriate licence has been granted.
"We have written to the CAA to invite them to visit the force and inspect the UAV and operating procedures with a view to securing the required licence at the earliest opportunity.
"The UAV is used to support existing search resources such as the helicopter and dog patrols. Its temporary unavailability will not affect the force's ability to deal with any situations that may arise."
David Wright, Frome Somerset around 2 years, 3 months ago