VILLAGES in the Wharfe Valley could become 'neglected' after new police boundaries were adopted, an Ilkley Parish Councillor has warned.

Coun Mike Exley, of Burley-in-Wharfedale, says he fears police presence in the villages will reach an all-time low.

He claims a new scheme means the same number of officers will now cover a much wider area.

The patrol car, which covered Ilkley and Addingham will now take in Silsden.

And the second squad car, which formerly concentrated on Burley and Menston, will now police Baildon and as far as Fox's Corner, in Shipley.

Coun Exley said: "The number of officers available in the Wharfe Valley is the same but the area they have to cover has increased

dramatically.

"The crime statistics are higher in Silsden and Baildon, which means there is a much larger work load for officers.

"They were short changed and I think we are going to be neglected."

Harry Rowlinson, a Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator, said the same fears were echoed in Addingham.

He said: "It is going to mean less officers unless we gird our loins and make things uncomfortable for the police.

"I doubt if it will make much impression on Derek Bonnard, (Chief Superintendent, Keighley Division). He is carrying out a policy.

"There is going to be a problem. I would say, with the information I have, that there will be a much reduced number of officers, particularly on night shifts."

But, Inspector Paul Clynch, head of Ilkley Police, denied that the changes had led to any reduction of officers in the area.

He said: "There have been extra staff allocated to Ilkley to make up five teams of

officers.

"There is going to be no decrease in the level of policing."

Inspector Clynch said he could comment no further upon the deployment of police officers.

The changes, which took effect on Monday, were instituted after a best practice review by West Yorkshire Police, under a new scheme called Problem Orientated Policing.

The aim of the scheme is to identify local crime issues and combat them.