The Government minister charged with tackling street robbery in Yorkshire was today in Bradford to see how it is being fought on the city's streets.

The Solicitor General, Harriet Harman, met the so-called Mums' Army to see how they tackle crime on the streets of Manningham, Heaton and Girlington.

Ms Harman, who has been given responsibility for tackling street crime in Yorkshire and the Humber, met members of the Safe Areas For Everyone Project - which includes the Mums' Army and aims to reduce anti-social behaviour and reduce the fear of crime and crime itself - at the Millan Centre in Heaton.

She was impressed with the fact that the group was run on a voluntary basis and the women, as well as keeping the streets safe, are also educating children to behave properly.

She told the Telegraph & Argus: "I think it's important that the police, the courts and the Crown Prosecution Service take strong action against street crime, but it's also very important that the local community take a lead.

"It is about people keeping themselves safe, keeping their children safe and keeping the community safe.

"These women are supporting their own families and their own neighbourhood and we want to do everything we can to back up their efforts and encourage what they are doing to help cut down street crime."

She added that she had great confidence that women, like the Mums' Army, would make a lot of progress in improving life on the streets.

She said: "Street crime has increased which is a worry and I think community action is going to play a real part in bringing that down and be successful in tackling street crime."

SAFE was founded by Elizabeth Hellmich and was given a grant of £11,000 from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund. It has received praise from Tony and Cherie Blair.

The women, both Asian and white, have taken part in training courses covering assertiveness, safety issues, body language, calming techniques, coping with stress and home security, as well as courses in first ad from West Yorkshire Ambulance Service.

Mrs Hellmich is amazed at all the attention that the group has received. She said: "We are staggered that our scheme has been highlighted in this way.

"When we started out it was a small idea relevant to our area, something we thought would bring business back in and get it back to how it used to be."

When women in the Manningham and Heaton areas were surveyed to find out what their problems were, they were surprised to find that Asian women listed the same worries as white women, she said.

But the women say they do not 'patrol' the streets.

During her visit to the city, Ms Harman was also due to meet senior law officials to discuss the Street Crime Initiative with members of the Bradford Street Crime Action Group.