POLICE have taken to the road for the first time as part of the new A12 Alliance Patrol.

The team of 18 officers was unveiled on Tuesday as the first in a series of proposals to clear congestion on the A12.

Split into three shifts, made up of one sergeant and five officers, the team will patrol the busy trunk road for 18 hours a day in a bid to keep it moving.

The A12 patrols were one of the recommendations of Essex County Council’s A12 Inquiry, which called for funding to create a blue light service to deal with congestion on the route.

The new patrols are being funded by an initial start-up grant of £1.5million, provided by Essex County Council.

It is believed to be the first scheme in the country where a local authority has paid for a police road patrol.

Derek Benson, Assistant Chief Constable of Essex Police, said: “The A12 patrols will operate 365 days a year, seven days a week from 6am until midnight ensuring the road is as clear and safe as possible.

“Officers will focus on clearing incidents but will also work to prevent them by continuing everyday police activities, clamping down on driving offences such as speeding, driving whileunder the influence of alcohol or drugs and driving whilst using a mobile telephone.”

Cllr Norman Hume, chairman of the A12 Alliance and Essex County councillor responsible for highways and transportation, said: “While accidents and incidents certainly won’t become a thing of the past, we are hopeful they will be cleared much more quickly, enabling our residents to keep moving.”

Mr Hume added it is the first in a string of measures which the county council hopes will improve the A12.