POLICE in Kirklees are to get a share of £4.4m in extra Government money to battle burglary and robbery.

The area is one of 35 across the country identified as facing extra challenges during the recession.

Among the measures paid for by the Vigilance Programme cash will be a crackdown on prolific offenders, free security devices for the public and targeted police operations to follow convicted burglars and disrupt the sale of stolen goods.

Home Office minister Alan Campbell, who announced the handout, said: “I am determined to stay on the front foot in fighting crime during an economic downturn and there is no sign of crime rising in the way that it has happened in previous recessions.”

Chief Con Mick Creedon, who is in charge of the Vigilance Programme for the Association of Chief Police Officers, added: “Burglary and robbery are crimes that cause considerable distress to victims.”