The information sharing agreement covers a number of organisations and provides a legal framework to facilitate the seamless transfer of information.

APU’s contribution will focus on motor fraud activity but will include intelligence relevant when necessary, while adhering to data protection principles and compliance guidelines.    

Made up largely of ex-police officers, APU is a bespoke team of 17 personnel and has been involved in many of the biggest fraud and “crash for cash” convictions of the last two years. The team were also able to help play a key role in the conviction of a man for attempted murder by proving his location at the time of the crime.

Neil Thomas, director of investigative services at Asset Protection Unit (APU), said: ‘We are in a prime position to help Police forces across the country to identify motor-related fraud so it made sense to formalise our partnership with Merseyside.

‘We use bespoke forensic techniques and cutting-edge analytical technology to monitor a large fleet of vehicles which have, at times, been used for criminal activity; the agreement, in which we can seamlessly share intelligence about such activity, is intended to identify crimes more quickly by working together.

‘It’s a breakthrough agreement to some extent and we hope to be able to help other forces in a similar way.’