Police officers will be out in force on the streets of Bradford on Christmas Eve to deal quickly with any booze-related problems.

The divisional commander of Bradford South Police, Chief Superintendent Alison Rose, has pledged to put “as many officers as possible” on the beat on December 24.

But she insisted police would not be taking a heavy-handed approach to rowdiness, instead favouring a “reasonable and sensible stance”.

She said: “There will be lots of bobbies on the beat on Christmas Eve – as many as possible. We are going to use commonsense principles.

“We don’t want to be seen to be stopping the festivities because we want people to come into the city and enjoy themselves.

“I would not call it zero tolerance, I would call it a reasonable and sensible stance on what’s appropriate. If there are plenty of officers on the street, we should be able to nip it in the bud.”

Chief Supt Rose said resources would not just be allocated to the city centre, but would also focus on places like Wibsey.

She said officers would speak to revellers throughout the day and visit licensed premises to stop things getting out of hand.

Police revealed their tactics for the festive period as the Bradford district’s Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy was unveiled at City Hall.

The Bradford Safer Communities Partnership has produced the strategy as a reminder to people to be sensible. Its goal is to tackle and minimise the harm caused by the misuse of alcohol, such as road accidents, fights on the streets and abuse in the home.

The partnership contains representatives of Bradford Council, Bradford and Airedale teaching Primary Care Trust, West Yorkshire Police, West Yorkshire Probation Service, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and Incommunities.

Partnership chairman Councillor Martin Smith said: “We are not killjoys but we are concerned about the damage done by excess alcohol and binge-drinking in our community.”

e-mail: will.kilner@telegraphandargus.co.uk