A NEW man is in charge of neighbourhood policing across Kirklees.
Chief Insp Keith Hallas will also be the sector commander responsible for policing in the Dewsbury area.
He has been appointed by Chief Supt Barry South, who is in charge of Kirklees Police which now covers both Huddersfield and Dewsbury.
Neighbourhood policing teams - made up of community beat bobbies and police community support officers - have been set up across the newly-formed division to liaise with the public and organisations such as Kirklees Council.
They set specific crime-fighting targets and then report back on their progress in solving them.
Chief Insp Hallas has been in the police for 28 years. He has worked mainly in Leeds - primarily in CID - before switching to Dewsbury five years ago.
He said: "West Yorkshire Police has had an incredible year with significant decreases in crime across most areas.
"Dewsbury has shared in this success. Overall crime has reduced by 23% which is an outstanding result so far.
"I see my role at Dewsbury as a good opportunity to continue working towards driving down crime locally even further, keeping our performance focused and further developing neighbourhood policing teams which I see as fundamental in addressing quality of life issues.'
"These teams are now well established. They are focusing on anti-social behaviour and low level crime - the sorts of issues and concerns that impact on all communities.
"It is all about getting more of our officers and staff closer to the people they police and protect."
Chief Insp Hallas, 47, is married with three children and lives in the Dewsbury area.
