ONE of Suffolk's most senior detectives today hailed the work of a new crime-fighting initiative launched to tackle major investigations within the county.

ONE of Suffolk's most senior detectives today hailed the work of a new crime-fighting initiative launched to tackle major investigations within the county.

Suffolk Constabulary's Major Investigation Team (MIT) was formed earlier this year to probe murders, manslaughters, kidnaps and stranger rapes.

To date, the most significant enquiry completed by the MIT was that of the Brandon rape, which saw Robert English jailed for life after he admitted the attack last month.

Officers arrested English less than a month after the brutal rape and abduction.

Today, detective superintendent Andy Henwood, who heads up the MIT, said the speed at which his team was able to respond proved crucial.

He said: “Before the MIT, we would pull in staff from across the force, which meant it took time to get people together and brief them on their roles while it also left a gap where they came from.

“But now, as soon as a major crime is reported we can deploy that team straight away.

“The most important time in any crime is that first 24 hours because that's the period when you usually collect the crucial evidence. The quicker we can get up and running, the better.

“That was the case with the Robert English case in Brandon. We were able to get the team together the following morning.”

Much of the catalyst for the introduction of the 50-man team of police officers and staff was the Steve Wright prostitute murder enquiry, coupled with other high profile investigations including the Zest nightclub shooting.

Det supt Henwood said: “We were working towards the MIT before the Steve Wright case but it's right to say the murders and the Zest nightclub shooting reinforced the need to get it up and running.”

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