Tackling drugs and balancing resources are just two of the tough targets facing the district's newest police chief.

Chief Superintendent Dougie Bell, a keen fell runner and mountaineer, has just taken up the post of Divisional Commander at Odsal Police.

The 48-year-old moves to Odsal having been head of the Pudsey division for three years, and is well aware of the challenges of his new role.

He said: "For the first time, the Government has set five- year targets for crime reduction. And we are at the beginning of a new policing plan year, so the timing is not ideal.

"I want to provide a high visibility police presence with officers proactively targeting prolific offenders.

"The really difficult decision is how to manage resources, how to strike a balance in the competing demands on the service. Tackling drugs is a major problem.

"Within that there are issues to do with health, education and awareness, treatment and enforcement. Not all of those can be dealt with by the police."

Add to that the fact there is change on the horizon. The recommendations of the Bradford Police Review will be published in the next month, and it could see Odsal's policing boundaries extended.

Chief Supt Bell said: "Change is painful for everyone. In 12 months time we may be policing a larger area with different problems."

His previous postings include a spell at the force training school in Wakefield and a stint as a sergeant at Laisterdyke Police - now Dudley Hill - in the late 1970s.

e-mail :

joanne.earp@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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