A NEW traffic department was launched on Monday following the restructuring of the Cambridgeshire force s Road Policing Unit. The new team, headed by Supt Mick Gipp, will focus on reducing casualties, denying criminals road-use, tackling anti-social use

A NEW traffic department was launched on Monday following the restructuring of the Cambridgeshire force's Road Policing Unit.

The new team, headed by Supt Mick Gipp, will focus on reducing casualties, denying criminals road-use, tackling anti-social use of the roads and the threat of terrorism, and enhancing public confidence and reassurance by patrolling the roads.

"The new Road Policing Unit means that all officers are working under one umbrella and focusing their efforts on the same things. The restructuring does not mean there will be fewer traffic officers on the county's roads, in fact, the number of traffic officers will remain the same. However, there will be an increased presence of officers on the roads as we work towards the national priorities set by the Government."

The new Road Police Unit unites divisional traffic officers, the Automatic Number Plate Recognition team, casualty reduction officers and the former Road Police Unit, which dealt solely with serious and fatal collisions.

Supt Gipp added: "Our priority is to create safer roads in the county through road safety work and enforcement. This will be achieved with regular operations such as Tornado and Mermaid.