Showcasing the work of the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit (MCU) in securing convictions against offenders of serious sexual offences which occurred up to 50 years ago, two programmes will air on BBC 2 on tonight and tomorrow (20 and 21 May).

With the advancement of forensic science and DNA intelligence, the MCU began a review in 2016 of all unsolved sexual offences dating back to 1974 under the name Operation Painter.

Since then the team has secured a 100 per cent success rate at trial with 10 convictions, and over 5,400 cases have been reviewed across the tri-force.

Detective Superintendent Carl Foster said: "Operation Painter is proof we will do all we can, no matter how many years it may take, to secure justice for victims of evil predators of sexual offences, in this case who thought they had got away with their crimes."

Filming by Brinkworth Productions for the BBC programmes took place over two years.

'Cold Case Investigators: Solving Britain's Sex Crimes' covers the investigations into the rape of a 16-year-old boy whilst walking home in Fairlands Valley Park in Stevenage in 1983, the kidnap and rape of a woman in Luton in 1993 by a man who pretended to be a taxi driver and an attack on three teenage girls as they made their way home in the early 2000s.

Det Supt Foster continued: "The significant trauma and personal consequence of what has happened to each of these victims has remained with them since they were subjected to these truly horrendous crimes.

"The MCU, Scientific Services Unit and forensic providers have delivered exceptional evidential cases to secure justice for victims and will continue this vital work.

"I hope viewers will see our dedication to cold case investigation and be reassured we will thoroughly investigate all sexual offences."

You can report information online, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat or call the non-emergency number 101.

To contact Herts SARC, call the 24/7 helpline on 0808 178 4448, email them at [email protected] or visit their website.