CRIMINALS could be being caught red-handed if Kent police officers had their own helicopter.

An internal police email obtained by News Shopper reveals how a Kent police detective was "99.9 per cent" sure the culprits of a Gravesend cash machine ram raid would have been caught if the force had its own air support unit.

The email was sent to air support liaison officer Detective Sergeant David Hall, who says criminals take advantage of the fact Kent police do not have a helicopter when committing crimes.

And figures obtained by News Shopper under the Freedom of Information Act have revealed Kent police pay other forces £1,500 an hour when they need air support to tackle crimes.

Helicopters are scrambled from neighbouring forces such as the Met Police, Suffolk, Sussex and Essex.

When responding to the recent £53m Securitas raid in Tonbridge, Kent police called in a helicopter from Essex.

In the email sent to Det Sgt Hall, the detective says: "If we did have our own air support the offenders would have been captured on the night with their hands on the stolen ATM.

"Police were able to locate the offenders and were following the offenders.

"My understanding of this chase was they were about to use a stinger when the vehicle turned off and went agricultural. The police vehicle could not follow."

It adds: "Air support would have been on the scene within minutes and would have joined in the follow, picking up offenders.

"They could then have directed patrols and dog handlers and a capture would have occurred, I am more than 99.9 per cent sure of this."

Kent police are one of three forces in the country which does not have a helicopter while the other 40 have their own air support, according to Det Sgt Hall.

He told News Shopper a helicopter would cost around £4.2m, though the Home Office would assist with 40 per cent of the costs.

Det Sgt Hall added a ballpark figure for running the helicopter would be between £820,000 and £1m a year. It would be in the air between 700 and 1,000 hours a year.

He said: "Some prolific criminals in Kent and the surrounding counties are fully aware Kent police does not have an air support unit and clearly take advantage of this sometimes."

Gravesham Council leader Councillor John Burden said: "Having a helicopter would definitely be an asset.

"There is lots of evidence helicopters can be used very positively when dealing with crime.

"I agree with it but it has to be based on reality.

"The flying time from one part of Kent to the other is prohibitive of a quick response."

Kent police were unavailable for comment at the time News Shopper went to press.