A senior university lecturer today warned that employing more ethnic-minority policemen could spell disaster for women trapped in forced marriages.

Marie Macey, a senior lecturer in sociology at Bradford University, has told Home Office Minister John Denham there is evidence of an "effective communications network" between Pakistani men aimed at preventing women from escaping unhappy marriages.

Dr Macey claims her research in Bradford also shows that men have infiltrated key agencies which enable them to trace those women who have run away from home.

She has written to Mr Denham: "There is a real danger that enthusiasm for increasing ethnic representatives in the police could further jeopardise the safety and wellbeing of women who are currently able to turn to the police for help in difficult and dangerous situations."

Dr Macey, who lives in Thornton and is involved in the Domestic Violence Agency, has written to Mr Denham following his community-cohesion review which was born out of the Bradford riots.

It includes a report from a team headed by Ted Cantle, former Chief Executive of Nottingham Council, and involved Bradford trade unionist Mohammed Taj who helped to examine the background to the summer violence in Bradford, Oldham and Burnley.

She has drawn his attention to points not considered in the reports, however.

Dr Macey, a senior lecturer in sociology at Bradford University, said today: "If something is not done now, the city will be dead - it is in crisis.

"Along with many other people, I believe that if action is not taken soon there is little prospect for community cohesion in Bradford or, therefore, the social and economic regeneration that is desperately needed."

Dr Macey applauds the Home Office focus on young people but warns there is evidence the men hold very different views from young women. She says her research shows the differences are particularly pronounced in the issue of forced marriages and women's education.

Government relaxations to allow increased postal voting is bad for the district, according to Dr Macey.

She says many young people are not allowed to vote the way they wish. And the votes of young women without access to English are also obtained by other people, she claims.

Dr Macey has told Mr Denham she feels the Ouseley and Cantle reports ignored much of the good which is being done in Bradford.

She points out the Telegraph & Argus tries hard to present a balanced view and is working with black training group The Creative Collective to offer opportunities to young black and Asian people.

A Home Office spokesman said he could not comment because the document had yet to be digested.

West Yorkshire police said the matter was one for the Home Office to comment on.