By Chris Story

Last updated 11:20, Thursday, 27 March 2008

A SPECIALIST squad of Cumbrian detectives have helped track down a child porn criminal in America.

Craig Mackey: ‘We are truly a linked world in what we do here’

The force’s hi-tech crime unit gathered evidence which was used to help an investigation led by the FBI.

Their work led to a man in West Virginia, USA, being jailed for four years after being convicted of possessing indecent images of children.

Such was the crucial involvement of Cumbria Police, federal investigators sent a letter of appreciation to the constabulary.

The investigation was one of the major issues of the past quarter highlighted by Chief Constable Craig Mackey yesterday.He told Cumbria Police Authority: “We are truly a linked world in what we do here.”

Officers are continuing to use constantly-evolving DNA techniques to help track down criminals, often responsible for crimes of the past – so-called cold cases.

In one case, officers found two DNA matches for a burglary in Workington which led to the arrest of a “persistent and prolific” offender at Durham Prison.

When confronted with the evidence he admitted that and 15 other similar offences over a three-month period.

He has since plead guilty and is waiting to be sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court.

Mr Mackey said: “Once a DNA sample is taken, it is available for all time. As technology improves, we are able to apply new technological knowledge that did not exist at the time a sample was acquired.”

Other incidents highlighted to the authority – Cumbria Police’s governing body – included the way officers from the county have had to respond to weather-related emergencies, including the closure of the trans-Pennine A66 because of snow.

The robbery of Carlisle guesthouse The Warren was also raised, as was the investigation into an armed robbery at the Royal Bank of Scotland on the city’s Rosehill Industrial Estate.

Mr Mackey has also met with his inspectors in Carlisle and Penrith to hear about the work they are doing with the licensed trade to help reduce issues surrounding alcohol-fuelled disorder.

Elsewhere, new technology – called Bluestar – which helps show small traces of blood was used for the first time as part of a murder investigation in Barrow during January, the chief constable reported.