A new squad of crime busters has been forged from the ranks of a police force.

And it was revealed yesterday that the highly successful and continuing Operation Sabre all-out blitz on Teesside's criminals was also a dress rehearsal for Cleveland Police's new Crime and Operations wing.

Specialist CID and uniformed branches are welding closer links with patrol car crews, dog handlers and mounted police along with headquarters based detectives.

"This development will give us more muscle, greater flexibility and increased expertise to carry out wide ranging operations,'' said Cleveland Crime Manager Detective Chief Superintendent John Kelly, who will head the new unit.

He revealed that Operation Sabre, which has rounded up dozens of crime suspects across Teesside, was the first time the new team was tested.

DCS Kelly said: "It is an effective use of our resources and is expected to be a template for developing a corporate front in the Force for operational policing.

"People have seen how effective Operation Sabre has become and things can only get better,'' he claimed. "We are determined to put the criminals on the back foot and take the fear of crime to them. This new unit will be extremely effective in doing just that.''