A KIRKLEES councillor has attacked government policies over a "slippery path to a two-tier police system".
It came as Meltham Town Council shelved its plan to fund a fully-trained bobby on the beat in Meltham.
Clr Ian Rutter, a member of West Yorkshire Police Authority, said he felt extreme unease and disquiet over government policies to allow additional police officers to be purchased.
Meltham Town Council had annou- nced it was in the process of looking at purchasing an additional Community Police Officer.
"This is in no way any criticism of Meltham parish council. If I were in their position, I would probably do the same. But this is criticism of the system which allows this to happen.
"We are on the slippery path to a two-tier police system, where areas that are more affluent will be able to purchase police officers at the expense of areas who can not afford it, which tend to be the areas of highest crime and social depravation."
Meltham councillors have now decided against paying out for their own community constable, after weeks of negotiation.
They have instead decided to see how policing improves with the appointment of two Community Support Officers for a beat covering Meltham, Marsden and Slaithwaite.
It would have cost them £23,000 to cover an officer on a two- year attachment to Meltham.
Clr John Bakanoba said: "Our view at the moment is that we ought to monitor the effectiveness of the two new officers over the next few months."
