Residents today welcomed West Yorkshire's new Chief Constable's pledge to improve community and police relations on troubled estates in Bradford.

Graham Moore, who started his new job as the top police officer in the county on Monday, is looking to set up "one stop shops" for local communities.

He said he wanted people to see more of a police presence on the county's streets, especially in troubled estates.

"I want to see people on estates recognising their local police officers," said Mr Moore. "We can have one stop shops where people can get assistance."

Ann Marie Coubrough, community development worker at the Hutson Street Project in Little Horton, welcomed the proposals.

"Young people, when they see a police officer, believe it means there is some trouble," she said.

"They grow up thinking that. But if community officers are around then they can build up a relationship with them. Then young people might start reporting crime more.

"Having a one-stop shop close by would be a good idea. Having somewhere close by where you can get help will be a real comfort for a lot of people."

Mark Burnside, treasurer of the Fagley Community Association, also gave a thumbs-up to the Chief Constable's idea.

He said: "We don't get much feedback here and it is quite a trek for people to get to their local police station at Five Lane Ends.

"Having a one-stop-shop would be great. And having community police officers, where people can get to know them, will make it much easier for people - they will be able to relate to the police a lot better.

"People are always saying the police spend too much time in their cars on not on the streets.

"A high police profile in the community would be welcomed, I'm sure."

Mr Moore joined West Yorkshire Police following three-and-a-half years as Deputy Chief Constable in Cambridgeshire.

Born in Nottinghamshire, he joined Birmingham City Police in 1969, but left three years later to study philosophy and literature at Warwick University.

He was an inspector of taxes at the Inland Revenue before joiningWest Midlands Police and working his way up the ranks.

He later became assistant chief constable in South Yorkshire before moving to Cambridgeshire.

Yesterday, Mr Moore paid tribute to West Yorkshire Police, saying: "It is one of the best forces in the country,."

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