A NEW police chief has vowed to tackle the issues on Kirklees’ streets – and has urged people to name the troublemakers.

Chief Insp Vince Firth has taken over as head of neighbourhood policing in Kirklees and is in charge of community safety.

He has promised to make a real difference to the issues affecting residents’ quality of life, including alcohol-related and violent crime.

Chief Insp Firth, 44, said: “It will be a massive challenge, but within a 12-month period I want to make a significant difference.

“If someone is breaking the law in the area they live in it can be upsetting for people and it affects their quality of life.

“We want to work with people, but what we need is for the public to work with us. Talk to us, tell us who commits the crime, because without your support we can’t take the right action.

“It is never easy and it will be a great challenge, but I am looking forward to getting started.”

Chief Insp Firth, who is based at Huddersfield police headquarters, says working in Kirklees has an extra significance because he was born in Huddersfield.

He went to Royds Hall High School at Paddock and worked as a butcher for a decade in Holmfirth and Crosland Moor before joining the police. He is married to Jill and has two sons Dean, a musician and Gareth, a nurse.

He added: “For me policing this area and having responsibility for it is of particular significance because I was born and bought up in Huddersfield.

“I’ve still got family living in Kirklees, so it makes it personal that I want to ensure it is a place I want my family to live.”

He also wants to tackle the issues around non-emergency calls and improve the quality of service the public receive.

“We are doing a lot to improve the non-emergency service we provide,” he added. “Our track record at dealing with emergencies is very good, but we need to look at the non-urgent calls.

“They are still a priority for us, as the people who call us are all victims.”

Chief Insp Firth promised that more officers would be used to talk to revellers to cut alcohol-related crime. He will also work with licensees to prevent problems before they escalate.

Along with 300 staff he will be taking to the streets himself to see the problems first-hand.

He added: “I want to get out there on a Friday and Saturday night and have a look at what the problems are.

“It is important for senior officers to get out there and get a reality check. It will also give me a good insight into what my officers are facing.’’

Chief Insp Firth was one of the first officers involved in the Street Angels team in Halifax which has been rolled out nationally.

He has 19 years service working in the mounted section, as an anti-riot officer and in the neighbourhood team.