CRIMINALS using Lancashire's motorway network were today warned by the county's new top motorway cop: "We're watching you".

Inspector Phil Cottam, Accrington's police commander for two and a half years, will make the move to head up the county's Motorway Unit in February.

And he has pledged to target not only drivers committing motoring offences but criminals using the network to travel to commit crime in the county.

Insp Cottam will take command of a unit of 60 officers and seven patrol sergeants providing 24 hour cover across the network at a time of major change.

Legislation announced in the Queen's Speech will see the Highways Agency (HA) take responsibility for parts of traffic flow and regulation from regional control centres. Eventually the plan is to have a joint Highways Agency and police control centre.

Insp Cottam is hoping that will allow his officers more time to tackle crime.

"There are 280 miles of motorway carriageway in Lancashire and four service areas, which are covered by the motorway policing unit," he said.

That vast patch includes parts of the M6, the M65 in East Lancashire, the M61, M55 to Blackpool and M58 to Merseyside, taking in the Forton, Charnock Richard (M6), Bolton West (M61) and Blackburn (M65) sevice stations.

"This is not just looking at traffic issues. The motorway network runs through all the territorial divisions of the constabulary and most of the motorway patrol vehicles are equipped with ANPR number plate recognition software and that's going to be at the forefront of not just targeting motorists who break the law but the intelligence that comes from the system.

"The motorway network is used by criminals across Lancashire and is the main artery for criminals coming into the county from other areas so there's also the aspect of targeting criminals using it going from one place to another to commit crime."

The partnership approach with the HA is something Insp Cottam welcomes.

"They already have incident support vehicles and they are going to have incident response vehicles. They will respond to what are minor incidents in order to keep traffic flowing -- things like debris on the carriageway, and vehicles that have broken down or been abandoned.

"The police will still retain responsibility for the recording and investigation of criminal offences which occur on the network.

"This is a major step change which will require a good deal of partnership working, and secondly it will increase the amount of time the police have available to target dangerous drivers and criminals using the motorway network.

"It should take quite a lot of pressure off officers. As the Highways Agency steps in that will free up police officer time which I hope to channel towards dealing with crime and road traffic offences which cause a danger to the public across the whole network. For me that was part of the attraction.

"We should have quite a flexible and targeted resource with the motorway policing unit which should be able to make a big impact on the safety of the network and on targeting travelling criminals."

During his 22 years in the job Insp Cottam has worked in Clitheroe, Nelson and Colne as a PC before being promoted to sergeant in Barnoldswick. While there he also worked for CID.

During his time at Accrington Insp Cottam has introduced eight community beat managers (cbms) to the area including two town centre officers, and reduced burglaries - one of his key targets.

"The public were asking for this face-to-face police contact again with people dedicated to specific areas, and I have always had very good feedback to the level of service they are giving to people.

"The other big thing is the fact we have reduced burglaries in Accrington. When I came we were looking at nearly three burglaries a day, now it's one. It's still too many but it's going in the right direction."

In 2001/02 there were 653 burglaries, a figure which dropped to 495 in 2002/03.

From April to December 8 this year there have been 282, down from 356 in the same period last year.

Insp Cottam will be succeeded at Accrington by Julian Platt, a former town sergeant.

Away from the job the 43-year-old likes walking in the Lake District, and gardening at his Nelson home.

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