A new police 'snatch squad' hit the streets of Bradford today with orders to weed out the city's most wanted criminals.

It is hoped the move will prevent offenders becoming 'lost in the system' and left free to roam the streets and commit more offences.

The new squad - known as the Taskit Team - was set to go after its first today in series of dawn raids across the city.

Detective Superintendent Geoff Dodd said: "The bottom line is that we will arrest more criminals and bring more of them to justice.

"The team will be entirely focused on tracking down wanted people and putting suspected offenders before the courts."

He said its initial assignment was a week-long drive to pick up suspected prolific burglars from across the division.

Det Supt Dodd said: "The message is simple to those who know we are after them, hand yourselves in before we come knocking on your door."

Det Supt Dodd said the division has cut burglaries by 1,000 since April last year compared to the previous 12 months - and the new snatch squad would bring the figures down further.

He said: "We have taken the fight to the burglars and achieved a huge amount but burglary is still a real priority. One burglary is one too many. We are going after the burglars and really mean business."