Pilots with the East Midlands Air Support Unit are now wearing night vision goggles (NVGs). The unit says it has become the first police operation in the UK to equip a whole crew with NVGs that meet new Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulations.

The unit, which provides aerial cover for police forces in Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and Leicestershire, has purchased three sets of Fenns NG2000 night vision goggles.

The unit's helicopter is a Eurocopter EC135T1 which is routinely crewed by a pilot and two observers. Its internal lighting has been converted to be compatible with the eyewear.

Mick Dunn, Executive Officer of the unit, said: "The goggles improve the aircraft crew's spatial awareness at night, allowing the pilot and two air observers to see the ground, buildings, other obstructions and even wires. This was previously near impossible at night, particularly in very dark rural areas, or 'black holes', where there is little ambient light such as street lights, building lights or vehicle lights."

The crew will be able to spot offenders or people who are missing at night, through just tiny amounts of light, such as the glow of a cigarette or the lit-up display on a mobile phone, some distance away.

Air observers from the North Wales Police air unit and the East Midlands unit have been using NVGs since June last year. But now new CAA and Air Accidents Investigation Branch regulations enable the pilot to wear NVG and for the aircraft lighting to be converted.

In an emergency call to the East Midlands Air Support Unit last July, the crew, wearing NVGs, managed to locate a man who had hidden his car in woods and was attempting to take his own life in Leicestershire. The crew spotted a glimmer of reflected light on the number plate of the man's car and were able to guide in officers on the ground who were able to save the man, who was believed to be just a few minutes away from death.

Mick Dunn said: "We are thrilled that the whole crew is now able to use the night vision goggles. It has taken us two years to achieve this under CAA and international aviation rules. We are the first police operation in the UK to use the technology under the new rules and regulations."

He added: "As well as the air observers extending their night-time operational capabilities through the use of both NVGs and the onboard thermal image cameras, it also greatly enhances flight safety for the pilot, particularly when operating in very dark rural areas.

"We cover three fairly rural shire counties where there are a lot of dark holes and previously night-time searches were extremely difficult.

"The aircraft required significant alterations to make sure that all internal lighting, including the officers' airwave terminals, are compatible with the goggles to prevent flaring."

The introduction of the night vision system has cost a total of #160,000, which includes nearly #50,000 for the three sets of goggles and the remainder spent on converting the aircraft lighting.

The bulk of the cost has been funded by a #121,000 government grant with the rest having been jointly funded by the police forces.