Cumbria Police is going to start using drones to fight crime.
Two unmanned aerial vehicles have cost the force nearly £5,000.
They'll be flown by officers on the ground with line-of-sight to get photos and video footage.
The constabulary says other forces have already shown how useful they can be collecting evidence.
A spokesperson insists they won't be used to replace patrols.
Chief Inspector Matt Kennerley, from the Operational Support Unit, said: “The benefit of using UAVs to assist police operations has already been proven in other police force areas and we believe this is going to be an innovative and cost-effective resource that will enable officers to save lives and tackle criminal activity.
“The UAVs will help collect evidence and monitor events from a distance which would help us detect crime and prosecute offenders. The UAVs can also be deployed into situations where deploying patrols would put members of the public or officers themselves at risk.
“Previously the only way officers in Cumbria could gain aerial assistance was to call out a police helicopter from the National Police Air Service. This would not only be a costly resource for the force but it can also be time-consuming. The use of the UAVs however provides a solution to this problem.
“UAVs will only be deployed when required and they will not replace patrols. They are an effective resource that provides police with an efficient air advantage.”