ANOTHER merger between police forces in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire has been agreed.

A new joint road policing unit will launch in April, and will include officers and staff from both counties.

It will deal with issues including traffic patrols, ANPR and investigations into serious road collisions, and will save both forces �654,000 in its first year.

It is the latest collaboration between Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire police, following the establishment of dog, scientific services and major crime units in recent years.

It is the first step towards forming a strategic policing alliance between Herts, Beds and Cambridgeshire forces, and a three force road policing unit is being planned for the future.

Hertfordshire Police Authority chair Stuart Nagler said: “This decision will bring greater resilience and efficiency to this key area of policing. It will also contribute significantly to the savings needed to enable Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire to limit the impact of the budget cuts on our frontline policing.”