Community leaders have hailed a breakthrough in the battle against gangs after the jailing of a two notorious brothers.

Keighley MP Kris Hopkins and Councillor Kaneez Akthar spoke out after Akeel Rasab was jailed indefinitely on Monday for a revenge gangland shooting in the town.

The 22-year-old, from Keighley, discharged both barrels of a sawn-off double-barrelled shotgun at his victim because he had left Keighley’s notorious Topenders gang.

His brother, Tanveer Rasab, 21, who was “minding” the gun, was also jailed for five years at Bradford Crown Court on Monday.

Now, Coun Akthar, who represents Keighley Central, has praised police and claims efforts to tackle gang crime in the town is starting to pay dividends.

He said: “I’ve been reassured by the statistical information and through contact with the police that everything has been done to ensure that there’s more proactive work in the community and that the police and community work together.

“A lot of progress has been made in the last few years and gang violence has decreased, largely due to the police and local people working alongside each other more effectively.

“The figures show that Keighley as a whole is a safe place in which to live.”

Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, Mr Hopkins welcomed plans for tougher action on gang culture which were announced by Home Secretary Theresa May.

He asked the Home Secretary: “Do you agree with me that violent criminals must be given the most serious sentences to stop them bringing fear and destruction to our towns, and that this Government will relentlessly pursue these individuals.”

Responding, Mrs May said the Government “will absolutely do that and I can assure you we are ensuring that tough sentences for the worst of our criminals are indeed available”.

In recent years, organisations including Bradford Council, police and schools have worked to reduce territorialism across Keighley. Work has centred around tackling the notorious “top end” and “bottom end” gangs centred on Highfield and Lawkholme.

Rasab, of Legrams Lane, Bradford, pleaded guilty to attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent and carrying a firearm for a criminal purpose in the incident in Eelholme View Street, Beechcliffe, in January, this year. He was sentenced to Imprisonment for Public Protection based on a 12-year determinate jail sentence.

Tanveer Rasab admitted possession of the shotgun and of heroin and fake ecstasy tablets with intent to supply.