Forces to launch joint M-way unit

Three England police forces are to join forces to create a motorway policing unit to help fight organised crime.

Lancashire, Merseyside and Cheshire constabularies will form a single group covering 10 motorways across an area of about 3,000 sq m.

Officials said the plan would improve cross-border cooperation and promote "intelligence-led" operations against terrorists and organised gangs.

The North West Motorway Policing Group will be staffed by 110 officers.

Round-the-clock cover

Headed by Cheshire Asst Ch con David Baines, the group will also take on 30 support staff.

Five bases across the region will be staffed, with a 24-hour control centre based at the Highways Agency Regional Control Centre in Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside.

The officers will cover parts of the M6 and the M55, M65, M61, M58, A601(M), M57, M62, M56 and M53.

A Central Motorway Police Group is already in place across 196 miles (315km) of the motorway network in the Staffordshire, West Mercia and West Midlands force areas.

Further details of the North West group were being unveiled on Monday.