WEST Yorkshire’s police chief has pledged to make neighbourhood policing a top priority as the budget cuts begin to bite.

West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison visited beat bobbies in Calderdale this week.

And he met with councillors and reinforced his commitment to neighbourhood policing.

Sir Norman told them: “Neighbourhood Policing is at the heart of everything we do and it’s here for good.

“It’s here to make the community stronger, to provide more reassurance and more confidence.

“It is important that in these uncertain times, we as a force maintain our commitment to you – the people of Calderdale.

“I want Neighbourhood Policing Teams to be accessible and something you can rely upon. Making you feel safe and protected within your community is our main priority.”

He said it was about keeping officers on the streets, adding: “It’s about tackling issues which matter in your area and letting you know what we are doing about it.”

It comes after the force announced 2,250 police jobs will be lost over the next four years, among them 750 police officer positions.