Police are pulling out of neighbourhood forum meetings where officers can be quizzed by local residents, it has emerged.

And today Bradford South Conservatives attacked the decision saying "the timing was insensitive" due to recent disturbances in the Lidget Green area.

It has become normal practice for police officers to attend the public Neighbourhood Forum meetings organised by Bradford Council.

Now, police have decided that they will instead send representatives to the five anti-crime partnership meetings, one for each parliamentary constituency - which are not open to the public.

Graeme Tennyson, the Conser-vative prospective parliamentary candidate for Bradford South, said the recent trouble in Lidget Green showed the need for more direct links between the police and local neighbourhoods - not fewer.

"I can understand that in recent years police resources have been stretched to breaking point. However, it is vitally important that local police officers have a direct link into these kinds of public forums," he said.

Councillor John Godward (Lab, Great Horton) said police input at neighbourhood forums in Lidget Green and Great Horton had been very helpful in the past.

"I hope the police will retain a presence when specifically requested," he said.

Today, a senior officer replied to the criticisms, saying it was a better use of officers' time to attend the Anti Crime Partner-ship meetings.

Chief Superintendent Dave Richardson, of Bradford South police, said: "Neighbourhood forums provide an excellent opportunity to consult with the people of Bradford, and we have no wish to withdraw from that important process. There are more than 90 such forums across the district that meet three times a year to discuss a variety of issues, not all of which are related to policing.

"Rather than going to 270 meetings a year, a much better use of a police officer's time is to attend the five Anti-Crime Partnership meetings, where all policing issues raised at the neighbourhood forums are fed into.

"Any issue requiring immediate police response should be reported directly to the police on 0845 6060606."