The police authorities and chief constables of the five East Midlands forces have made considerable efforts to address this issue. They fund jointly the East Midlands Collaboration Planning Team, which has undertaken a thorough examination of opportunities for reducing costs across all five police forces and investing in protective services, in particular through collaborative approaches. This work is continuing with the aim of having an action plan in place in October 2007. At the same time, the East Midlands forces have made advances in the delivery of policing services to tackle serious organised and cross-border crime through the establishment of the East Midlands Special Operations Unit. The Home Office has supported this development with start-up funding, and is also funding a Counter Terrorism Intelligence Unit located in the East Midlands as part of the national structure being developed in partnership with the Association of Chief Police Officers.