A multi-million pound shopping list has been drawn up for vital repairs, refurbishment and replacements for policing in Bradford.

But the improvement programme, outlined in West Yorkshire Police Authority's annual budget, falls far short of what its chiefs believe is needed.

They are calling for a five per cent increase on Council tax bills - 6p a week per council tax payer - to fund a further £1.6 million of works across the county.

Improvements included in the current £12.6 million capital budget for 2000/2001 include more than £2.5 million for a replacement station for the Odsal division. The lease on its current headquarters runs out in 2003.

Vital repairs to cell facilities, including those at Keighley, Bradford Central and Pudsey, make a combined total of £1,330,000. And more than £3 million will be spent on a replacement for the force's helicopter which is more than ten years old. A report to the authority says the craft suffers "frequent failure of major components" leading to increasing maintenance costs.

A further £2,100,000 is needed to fund the on-going replacement of the force's fleet of vehicles in order to "maintain operational effectiveness".

But the report also highlights a desperate need for more funding and calls for a five per cent increase on top of the Government's guideline of 4.5 per cent.

This extra cash would fund three main areas across West Yorkshire - CCTV in custody areas, fluorescent jackets for patrol officers to aid high visibility policing and essential repair work to the Force Training and Development Centre in Wakefield.

The report says budget reductions over the past two years have resulted in a cut of £13 million going into the service.

It adds that repairs required but not funded at West Yorkshire police sites total £5 million. To kit out the force in a new lightweight uniform, which will be available within the year, will cost a further £3.2 million.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.