Rangers could soon be patrolling Bradford's parks carrying handcuffs to cart offenders off to police stations.

The pioneering crime-busting measures, which have been adopted in Wandsworth, will be considered when the powers of the district's park rangers are reviewed.

The park constables in the London borough are employed by the Council and have vans and dogs and carry out stake-outs to catch offenders.

A by-law gives them the same powers of arrest as the police when they are patrolling the parks.

Now Bradford Council officers have been asked by councillors to look at all options for giving the district's motorbike patrollers more "teeth."

The wardens can already issue fixed penalty tickets for dog fouling.

But a major review of the services showed some rangers wanted to increase their powers.

They wanted to look initially at illegal parking and litter offences. But the survey also found they were spending almost a third of their time dealing with truants and felt frustrated and ill-equipped to deal with the problem.

Bowling club members whose greens have been vandalised have also pointed out that while the rangers do a good job, they cannot tackle all the problems because they are "toothless."

Now the Council's new Environment Committee has agreed the powers of the rangers should be fully explored.

Potential dangers to the staff would also be considered and rangers, park users and councillors would discuss them before any conclusions were reached.

Scrutiny committee chairman Councillor Ghazanfer Khaliq said: "I wouldn't want to see anything ruled out, including the Wandsworth scheme. I would like them to have more powers and I think it would help the police. The legislation would need to be examined."

Executive Committee member for homes and environment Councillor Jim O'Neill (Lab, Odsal) said: "Given the powers and proper training, I would be all in favour of increasing their powers, providing they complemented the police. I would like it to be in partnership with the other agencies."

He said he believed the extra "clout" for the staff could also be a deterrent to offenders.

Executive Committee member for culture, heritage and leisure, Councillor Barry Thorne, said the rangers had given valuable help to the police in the investigation into sex attacks at Lund Park, Keighley.

"Ever since they were started they have made the parks a lot safer. We will look with interest at the powers," he said.

A police spokesman said: "Anything which boosts safety in local parks is welcome.''

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