Yorkshire and Humber police forces team up in war against crime (From York Press)

Yorkshire and Humber police forces team up in war against crime

8:12am Tuesday 20th October 2009 in

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ORGANISED crime and anti-crime strategies will be on the agenda today when the four chief constables of Yorkshire and the Humber unveiled their plans for the future of policing in the region.

Collaboration has already taken more than £1 million worth of drugs off the region’s streets.

Now the Regional Collaboration and Future Policing document will set out a formal agreement of how North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Humberside police forces can work together for mutual benefit.

The forces already have regional teams which include the Regional Roads Policing Team, the Regional Intelligence Unit, a strategic unit that maps criminal activity across the region, and the Regional Asset Recovery Team (RART), which uses the power of the Proceeds Of Crime Act to strip convicted criminals of their assets. In the future the forces will collaborate in other areas like protective services, training, and procurement.

Grahame Maxwell, Chief Constable of North Yorkshire, said: “Combining the strengths and skills of the four Yorkshire forces enhances our mutual capability and capacity to deal with serious and organised crime and major incidents.

The success of the Regional Roads Policing Team during the past year sets a clear template for this collaborative effort. Together we can take on these significant challenges from a position of strength and resilience, and continue to protect and serve our communities to the best of our ability right across the region.”

So far the Regional Roads Policing Team and the Regional Intelligence Unit have mounted 373 operations, seized £993,715 in class A drugs, £57,700 in class B drugs and arrested 501 suspects.