A JOINT unit to deal with emergencies and large-scale events within Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire has launched. The civil contingencies and public order planning unit will cover both counties and be based near the border, at Hitchin police

A JOINT unit to deal with emergencies and large-scale events within Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire has launched.

The civil contingencies and public order planning unit will cover both counties and be based near the border, at Hitchin police station.

Officers will work with other authorities to plan emergencies like severe flooding or large-scale concerts.

This development is expected to bring improved resilience and efficiency to key areas of specialist policing and combine skills and expertise from across the two forces.

Hertfordshire Constabulary's deputy chief constable Simon Parr said: "Working together in this way can enable us to deliver a more efficient and resilient policing service to our communities and to make the maximum use of the expertise we have across both forces in this specialist area of work."