A VOLUNTEER crimefighter has called for Bradford's new architectural liaison police officer to get out and about on the streets instead of sitting in an office.

Police Constable Stephen Town will work with

planners, regeneration staff and architects on new developments and refurbishments.

He will be involved in examining new planning

applications to ensure they incorporate crime

prevention principles such as layout, access, natural surveillance, car parking, landscaping and security.

Harry Rowlinson, Addingham's Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator has called for PC Town to improve planning scrutiny carried out by the police.

He claims that previously, the police did not look at plans, and their effect on traffic dangers and emergency vehicle access, closely enough.

Mr Rowlinson said the police had used one man who sat in an office in Wakefield and who could not come out to see the sites.

"We now have our own architectural officer. I believe his office is in Bradford. He must be able to leave the office.

"I want to see him out on the streets looking at

planning application sites."

Mr Rowlinson believes that a proper inspection of development sites would prevent situations which could cause problems when buildings are constructed.

He claims that access roads to the new Redrow housing estate on Skipton Road are too narrow to allow

emergency vehicles to pass easily.

He also said that a visit to Bolton Road in Addingham would enable police to see traffic dangers resulting from a planning application to build a housing

development between Bark Lane and Main Street which would be accessed from The Acres.

Traffic travelling along Bolton Road at speed would not be able to see over the brow of the hill where

vehicles would be coming in and out of The Acres, said Mr Rowlinson.

"Because of the braking distance there is going to be an accident there - we have been lucky so far. It is a

concealed entrance and is bad enough already," said Mr Rowlinson.

Bradford Councillor Kris Hopkins, (Con - Worth Valley) executive member for health and housing, said: "We are delighted that PC Town is to work in

partnership with the council to ensure that issues of public safety are considered at an early stage in the planning process."

But according to a police statement, PC Town's work will mainly be concerned with trying influence architects to design less burglary-friendly buildings.

PC Town said: "Considerable experience and independent research shows that new developments,

incorporating designing out crime principles, suffer substantially less crime and anti-social behaviour."