A police federation chief has warned against political interference in running policing – as the Government unveiled its plans to have elected members of each police authority.

Bradford would have its own directly-elected police chief within two years, under radical Government plans to use “people power” to fight crime.

Crime and Policing Repres-entatives would also be elected to ensure the Chief Constable acts on local crime problems.

But Tom McGhie, chairman of West Yorkshire Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, said: “I have my concerns about this and direct political control over the police force and chief constables.

“In this country we have an tripartheid arrangement between Government, police and the public – and it works.

“I am concerned about what could happen if operational control is taken away from chief constables by people who have very different agendas.”

The shake-up would also – for the first time – commit the police to respond to calls for help within set time limits, as the ambulance service does.