Detectives at Bedfordshire Police who work with their counterparts across the border in Hertfordshire to crack major crimes have been praised for their work.

An inspection of the Beds and Herts Major Crime Unit, which was created last November, described the joint initiative as 'groundbreaking', and said the partnership had been 'very successful for both forces'.

The 150-strong joint unit was the first of its kind to be set up in the UK, and is based at Hertfordshire Police's headquarters in Welwyn Garden City.

It has so far achieved a 100 per cent detection rate - meaning someone has either been charged or convicted - for murder cases.

The report, by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, looked in detail at how the forces identify major crime risks and deal with incidents such as murders and rapes.

The inspectors said the existence of the dedicated unit meant valuable resources were not taken away from other areas of policing.