A new initiative will be launched next month in a bid to reduce crime and the fear of crime in town and city centres across the Bradford district.

The scheme, which aims to make the district a safer place in which to live, shop and work, forms part of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy.

A co-ordinating group involving representatives from more than a dozen partnership agencies such as the police, Council and Chamber of Commerce, will be up and running within the next fortnight.

And an action plan focusing specifically on Keighley, Bingley, Shipley and Ilkley town centres, as well as Bradford city centre, is expected to be in place by the end of the year.

Reducing the fear of crime is a key target of the three-year strategy. In the recent Crime and Disorder Audit 36 per cent of people questioned said they chose to avoid town and city centres in the district after dark.

But Sandy Needham, director of the Bradford & District Chamber of Commerce, who is also part of the co-ordinating group, says public perception is often a long way from the truth.

She said: "It is important that we continue with the caf culture of opening more businesses in the evening. When people actually visit these areas they find that there is a lot on offer, and a lot to enjoy.

"Businesses can play an important part in helping to reduce this fear, particularly among the elderly, by sharing good practice and promoting the good work already being done."

She said businesses welcomed the opportunity to join forces with other partnership agencies such as the police and Council, and come up with specific solutions to the problem.

"It might be that we need extra CCTV and other security measures, or restricted access to certain areas at night. But we can only solve the problem by sharing information."

T&A Opinion

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