THERE will be 18 more bobbies on the beat in Kirklees this year.
The number of Police Community Support Officers is expected to increase, despite swingeing cuts facing police chiefs.
Ashbrow’s Clr Ken Smith, who sits on the West Yorkshire Police Authority, said he hoped the increase would make a difference.
Clr Smith spoke after a meeting of the Police Authority revealed that there were 1,000 fewer victims of crime in West Yorkshire. But the figures of how many actual victims of crime there were have not yet been published.
Clr Smith said: “It’s really good news, there’s been a year on year reduction.
“It’s going to be hard to keep it up as we’re losing staff.
“It is going to be really tough, especially when the budget has been cut. I would be surprised if we don’t slip a bit.”
Clr Smith said that neighbourhood policing was the major issue for Kirklees police.
Figures show that £35,324.10 has been allocated to protect communities from anti-social behaviour by targeting the areas where people feel most vulnerable and unsafe.
Figures published by the Police Authority shows that there has been 1,000 fewer victims of crime in West Yorkshire, police say.
At the latest West Yorkshire Police Authority Strategic Performance and Planning Committee it was revealed that 80% of residents said they were satisfied with the way antisocial behaviour is tackled where they live.
The Authority said the most serious violent crimes have been reduced by almost 10% and nearly 40% of these offenders are brought to justice.
Burglary is down 4.1% and overall acquisitive crime which includes burglary, robbery and vehicle crime has fallen by 3.3%.
