LONDON —  Police in northwestern England on Monday tested a tiny airborne drone fitted with a closed-circuit TV camera that will be used to spy on criminals.

The battery-operated drone, which resembles a miniature helicopter, will be operated by officers using a remote control. Made by German company Microdrones, the drone is three feet wide and weighs less than 2 1/2 pounds.

"It is a cost-effective way to deal with situations where you have to deploy a lot of officers," said Louise Burton, spokeswoman for Merseyside Police Force.

Able to record images from a height of 1,500 feet, the drone's design was based in part on pilotless military aircraft used for reconnaissance. It provides instant high-quality images that can be transmitted to a support vehicle or to a control room.

Merseyside police expect to receive the drone in June and will be giving it a three-month trial.

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