A new Major Investigation Unit, dealing with serious crimes like murder, is to open in Shropshire, it was revealed today.

The Shrewsbury-based centre will cover incidents across the whole of the county, including Telford division, giving detectives a state-of-the-art base for their operations.

It will be opened in March and will be led by Detective Chief Inspector Sheila Thornes who will have a team of detectives under her.

The unit will be at the same base as the £2.2 million police communications centre which opened last year.

CCTV, such as the footage which was key in the double Frankwell murder hunt after the deaths of Samantha Tapper and Annie Eels, will be viewed at the unit during investigations.

DCI Thornes led the hunt for convicted killer Garry Harding who was seen on a number of CCTV images in the town on the day of the murders at Rachael’s massage parlour in Frankwell.Smaller Major Investigation Units could still be run from Telford’s Malinsgate Police Station but the new unit will be the key base.

The unit will be officially opened on March 2 by the High Sheriff of Shropshire Anne Gee.

Rachel Anstee, West Mercia force spokeswoman said: “Shrewsbury now has its own specialist Major Incident Unit building with facilities such as a CCTV viewing area and briefing rooms.

“The extra space means we can run more than one major operation at one time. The MIU will deal with incidents for Telford and Shropshire police divisions,” she added.

It comes after the Contact Management Centre North was opened in Shrewsbury last year to ensure officers had improved resources to deal with major incidents.

It is staffed by 90 employees and replaced smaller control rooms at Telford and Shrewsbury police stations.

Staff at the centre prioritise incoming calls from the across the county and with the opening of the MIU, detectives will be available to run their investigations from the same base.

The MIU has been developed within the existing building.

By Crime Correspondent Kirsty Smallman