FORMER Weymouth policeman Tony Rogers has been in touch with police investigating the murder of prostitutes near Ipswich.

Mr Rogers, who heads a police consultancy business, has talked to officers in Suffolk and is on standby should his expertise be needed.

Mr Rogers is a former Chief Superintendent with Dorset Police and was praised for his role as a homicide consultant to Cambridgeshire police for the Soham murders.

Mr Rogers said: "I have spoken to the police in Suffolk as I know them.

"They will be looking at things like CCTV and number plate recognition systems to see who has been around in the area.

"They will also need to manage the media, as they will need them, and the community with them. There are also the family issues to consider."

Mr Rogers said Suffolk police were getting help from neighbouring forces.

They are investigating the deaths of at least five women in the Ipswich area. The Suffolk force is next to the Cambridgeshire force that Mr Rogers helped during the Soham investigation into the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.

Mr Rogers is a director with the Dream Group.

The consultancy is based in London, but recently opened a Winchester office.

He has also been working with the BBC as an on-screen expert during the Ipswich inquiry.

Mr Rogers said that the case was going to be challenging for detectives and experts drawing up profiles of the killer.

Mr Rogers was praised for playing a key role in catching child killer Ian Huntley.

Detective Chief Supt Chris Stevenson, head of the inquiry, singled out Mr Rogers as he praised police after Huntley was found guilty of the Soham murders.

Mr Rogers, who was born in Weymouth, joined Dorset Police in 1971 and became head of special squads before becoming Chief Superintendent and commander of traffic and operations.

He received three commendations during his career in Dorset before leaving to become Assistant Chief Constable of South Wales Police in 1997.

Mr Rogers retired from the Welsh force to move back to Dorset and become a non-executive director of the Dorset and Somerset Health Authority in 2002 but also kept working as a consultant to police forces.