The Central Traffic Team (CCT) at Humberside Police covers all four divisions of the force area but is centrally managed by the Operations Branch.

Arrests have been made for offences including murder, rape, robbery, burglary and indecent assault on a child.

Work with the UK Border Agency has also led to the arrests of people suspected of people trafficking.

The team was set up with several aims, including targeting criminals, reducing the number of people killed or seriously hurt on the roads, investigating fatalities, and detecting and deterring roads-based terrorist activity.

Enforcement has focused on the three nationally agreed "high risk" groups – riders of high-powered motorbikes, occupational drivers and young drivers.

A report to the strategic policing committee of force watchdog Humberside Police Authority next Tuesday called the start "encouraging".

It continued: "The investigation of roads fatalities has benefited from central direction and control of resources.

"While the service provided to victims and families of such incidents has always been highly rated, the CTT strives to improve upon that.

"A recent meeting with HM Coroner has resulted in a commitment to reduce the time taken to complete fatal inquiries without compromising the quality of the investigation."

The team also uses automatic number plate recognition, mass surveillance technology, as an intelligence gathering tool in support of national security.

This is carried out at "sensitive locations", the report said.

Officers have also taken part in successful cross-border operations with neighbouring forces.