A NEW road squad launched three months ago by Cheshire Police has been hailed a huge success.

The road policing unit is led by Supt Beveley Raistrick and consists of more than 90 police officers, 13 sergeants and two inspectors, who are all dedicated to policing the county’s roads.

The team aims to detect and deter criminal and anti-social use of the roads.

They respond to emergencies on the road network and investigate and reduce road collisions and casualties.

Roads policing Inspector Liz Cunningham said: "Cheshire Police recognise the importance of roads policing. We aim to deliver a quality service around all issues faced by road-users.

“Virtually every single person uses or is affected by using roads and transport links one way or another.

"We understand that some road-users place themselves and others at risk through poor or illegal driving which we proactively and robustly deal with to try to make our roads as safe as we can.

“The roads policing strategy developed by Cheshire Police also serves to tackle those who use our roads to commit crime.

“We have a very clear role with regard to tackling criminality, which they actively undertake every day of the year and throughout the 24 hour period."

The team has attended nearly 600 road traffic collisions, dealt with more than 1600 offenders who have committed a traffic related offence, made nearly 200 arrests and conducted more than 300 stop searches.

All of which are aimed at removing criminals from our roads to making the roads safer for other road users.

The team took part in Operation Brazil which targeted drink drivers during the World Cup.

They also joined forces Greater Manchester Police as 200 officers targeted criminals on the county’s roads.

More than 300 vehicles were stopped, 15 people arrested, 94 offenders dealt with at the roadside and 19 vehicles seized.

Insp Cunningham added: “We provide specialist highly trained officers in well equipped vehicles to deliver our roads policing strategy throughout the force area 24/7, 365 days of the year.

"As well as proactive and response activity, we also undertake the investigation of all serious and complex roads policing issues which affect people who use the roads of Cheshire.”