A HAMPSHIRE police specialist unit has received national recognition for its work combatting people smuggling..

Hampshire Constabulary’s Commercial Vehicle Unit (CVU) was awarded a National Crime Agency (NCA) commendation.

Supt Simon Dodds, from the Joint Roads Policing Unit, said: “The recognition, following a nomination by the Immigration Service, acknowledges their commitment to partnership working to help develop intelligence, improve prosecution opportunities but also provide victim support to many of the migrants.”

The unit’s officers are able to use their specialist equipment and training to interpret the tachographs and refrigeration units of commercial vehicles found with people inside them.

The readings then offer vital evidence in establishing when the migrants could have entered the vehicle, meaning they can determine at an early stage whether or not the driver could have been involved.

Their work has proved so valuable that they are automatically deployed to incidents to boost the policing response, while considering the welfare of those found.

An NCA spokesman said: “The recognition, following a nomination by the Immigration Service, acknowledges their commitment to partnership working to help develop intelligence, improve prosecution opportunities but also provide victim support to many of the migrants.”