TIANJIN, Sept. 8 -- China has organized 28 fleets of 47 police helicopters to better respond to public security emergencies, an official from the Ministry of Public Security said Tuesday.

Police departments from 18 provinces have been equipped with 47 helicopters including the China-made AC311 and AC312 as well as foreign brands, Liu Daolin, deputy director with the police aviation administration office under the ministry, said at a forum held in Tianjin.

Liu said more than 150 police departments in China purchased more than 300 unmanned aerial vehicles over the past two years.

"Helicopters are playing an indispensable role in hunting criminals, air patrols and searches, transport and drug control," Liu said.

The first police helicopter in China was put to use in Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province, in 1993. Guangzhou, Zhengzhou, Nanjing and Shanghai have used police helicopters since.

Local police departments are now expanding their helicopter fleets for quicker response to emergencies and to fight terrorism. It is estimated that China will have 50 police helicopter fleets with 100 helicopters by 2020.