TORY defence spokesman Ian Duncan-Smith met villagers worried about policing levels in Haworth when he visited on Monday.
He accompanied Simon Cooke, Keighley's Tory candidate, to the village's former police station.
The original reason for the visit was to see how Haworth was being affected by foot and mouth outbreaks in the Yorkshire Dales. Mr Cooke said that instead the pair were confronted by more than 30 families protesting at the loss of their community constable.
He said: "People in Haworth, Oxenhope and Oakworth are angry that their community constable has been withdrawn and re-assigned to Keighley. I can understand their resentment when it is announced that community policing in parts of Keighley has increased."
Mr Duncan-Smith claimed West Yorkshire now had at least 330 officers less than 1997 levels, and crime had increased. He added: "The present government is intent on maintaining the early release scheme for prisoners.
"Under these circumstances I am wholeheartedly behind these efforts to have the constable restored."
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