In an ideal world, the streets of Bradford and other cities would be kept crime-free by an abundance of police officers on high-profile patrols, reassuring the public and scaring off the ne'er-do-wells.

Unfortunately, though, successive governments have not seen fit to make that one of their priorities. Police resources are spread too thinly. Priorities have to be set, and tackling the litter louts and graffiti artists does not come high up that list.

We all want to see a sustained effort to curb the sort of anti-social, intimidating behaviour that can deter law-abiding citizens from visiting the city centre.

So given the reality of what seems likely to be a permanent shortage of "bobbies on the beat", alternatives ways have to be found of making central Bradford a cleaner, safer place.

The West Yorkshire Police Federation favours an expansion of the Special Constabulary. That might indeed be the second-best solution to providing more full-time officers, but it seems unlikely to happen in the near future.

So Bradford Council is right to take advantage of funds available from the Government to provide ten uniformed "street wardens" who will act as the eyes and ears of the police, tipping them off about criminal behaviour as well as keeping in contact with the Council to alert it to litter and graffiti hotspots.

The presence of these wardens is bound to reassure the public and let the louts and petty criminals know that their behaviour will not go unnoticed or unreported. Working closely with the police, the wardens have an important role to play in making Bradford a better place to be.