A team of Bradford police officers who have helped slash house burglaries in their area by more than a third this year is aiming to boost that figure in a new crime fighting drive.

Manningham and Toller Neighbour-hood Policing Team is teaming up with Bradford Council and Yorkshire charity Community Action and Support Against Crime (CASAC) to help security arrangements of Girlington residents.

Operation Stationdale aims to ‘target harden’ properties in the area against house burglaries. The team will be fitting additional security measures, such as window locks, door locks and door chains where necessary.

Extra attention will be paid to properties with uPVC doors, to make sure they are fitted with anti-snap locks.

Inspector Richard Baildon, who leads Manningham and Toller NPT, said: “House burglaries are a particularly invasive crime and we are pleased to say that we have reduced these by more than 30 per cent in the Toller Ward this year.

“But one victim of burglary is one too many, and we are keen to make further improvements by working with communities to help make them safe and feel safer.

“We are grateful for the support of our colleagues at the Council and CASAC, and hope that we can continue to work in partnership to improve community safety.”

Superintendent Scott Bisset, who leads neighbourhood operations in the Bradford district, said: “We are determined to tackle those offenders who continue to blight communities with their behaviour, which often leads to very upsetting and severe consequences for victims and their families.

“Our commitment is to work with partners and communities to help protect them while ensuring that those who commit these crimes are prosecuted, and we would encourage anyone with information on crime to contact the police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.”

Councillor Imran Hussain, deputy leader of Bradford Council, said: “We take community safety extremely seriously and we will do anything we can to help the fight against crime anywhere it takes place.

“As a local ward Councillor, I have been working closely with the police and other partners to help to improve the lives of people in the community and make residents feel safer. I a