West Yorkshire's top policeman has pledged the Bradford public will get to know familiar faces on the beat as neighbourhood policing is stepped up.

Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison promised to give people what they want - a visible, accessible police service.

Sir Norman yesterday outlined his plans for taking his officers to the public at a Neighbourhood Policing seminar at a Bradford hotel, attended by 120 officers from the force.

And, speaking exclusively to the Telegraph & Argus before the event, he suggested there would be more officers on the beat in Bradford.

"We have a commitment to building a new relationship with the public we serve and the vehicle for doing that is Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs)," said Sir Norman.

"In Bradford there are in the region of 12 NPTs. That may grow. We are looking to restructure around council wards.

"The purpose is to have inspector-led teams, with three sergeants and between 20 and 25 constables and Police Community Support Officers, who will be locally based and dedicated to that area.

"They will build a relationship with the public in that neighbourhood, understand their problems and, with other partners, come up with plans to solve those problems.

"There will still be emergency response vehicles and there will still be investigators. But the bulk of our resources available for local policing will be devoted to these policing teams.

"These teams already exist but there is a determination on my part, shared by local politicians and the chief executive of Bradford Council, to make sure we reconnect with the public we serve."

Sir Norman said the strategy would have three main benefits - reducing the fear of crime, building a relationship between the police and the public, and encouraging officers and PCSOs to care about their community.