Climbing robots are the latest weapon in the fight against arson in the West Midlands.
CCTV cameras which can climb up lampposts are to be deployed in arson hotspots in a bid to catch the culprits in the act.
The devices were unveiled at an Arson Task Force seminar in Birmingham.
Police and fire brigades from across the country gathered at Handsworth fire station for the conference to discuss the best ways of tackling the menace.
They were given a demonstration of the redeployable CCTV cameras which are being designed and built for the West Midlands task force.
Their first posting will be at an undisclosed Dudley location which has been blighted by arson gangs.
Sgt Phil Butler, from the West Midlands task force, said: "The photos which they take can then be downloaded remotely by laptop without the need for any wire connections."
