The police who try to get justice for victims of serious crimes in Hertfordshire that have gone unsolved for decades have given a unique insight into their work in a video launched this week.

The Cold Case and Review Team investigate unsolved cases going back up to 30 years including murders and stranger rapes, and carry out contemporaneous reviews on live investigations.

Detective Sergeant Polly Vanterpool, who works on the Cold Case and Review Team, said: "The team have victims and their families very much at the forefront of their minds.

"They can have been left extremely traumatised by what happened to them or their loved one and this can be impounded by the fact no suspect has been traced.

"We are committed to seeking justice for them and will use every opportunity and tool available to solve a case, even if the offence occurred decades ago.

"A case is never closed and we will continue our work to review investigations in a bid to find that vital piece of new evidence.

"The advancements in forensic work really do increase our chances of tracking down offenders and can form a vital part of our work.

"When cases are successful it is good to know someone who thought they had got away with a serious crime could face prison."

The squad, which is based within the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, re-examine cases from across the three counties looking for any new information which could bring about a conviction or solve a case.

They work closely with forensic scientists, using advances in forensic technology, to look at slides and samples from crime scenes to check for possible DNA matches.

If significant information is found which could lead to a prosecution the team hand their investigation to a live team to take the inquiries forward.

The video can be viewed on the Herts Police YouTube page.