A trail-blazing campaign to cut arson attacks on vehicles in the Bradford district has been hailed a success.

The Vehicle Crime Partnership was launched last November by West Yorkshire Police, Fire Service and Bradford Council.

Latest figures show the number of cars stolen and burned out in arson attacks has dropped by 61 per cent.

In the three months before the scheme was launched 28 vehicles were stolen and burned out in the Bradford Central police division. That fell to 11 for the three months which followed.

Bradford Fire Station, the busiest in West Yorkshire, has also noticed a drop in call-outs to car fires in the district. The initiative includes giving crime prevention advice and promoting safe ways to dispose of unwanted vehicles.

Bradford Central crime prevention officer PC Lew McKenzie said: "The number of arson offences on stolen vehicles has dropped by 61 per cent since the launch of the partnership."

Bradford Fire Station commander, Brian Robson, said he was pleased with the achievements of the partnership so far.

And he urged people with information on vehicle arsons or who see anything suspicious to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

In 1998 there were 873 vehicles involved in fire in the Bradford area, 8,880 cars and vans broken into and a further 5,480 vehicles stolen.

The Vehicle Crime Partnership is part of a raft of initiatives aimed at reducing car crime, particularly in the city centre. Private security patrols on two crime-hit Council car parks have been extended for another month.

The patrols on Vicar Lane and Westgate car parks were set up last year in a bid to deter criminals. Now Bradford Council has agreed to extend it for another month.

A Council spokesman said: "With the forthcoming installation of a security barrier at the Westgate car park, an additional patrolman will be made available to monitor both the Vicar Lane and Westgate parking areas."

The patrols were launched before Christmas after the Telegraph & Argus printed a name and shame list of the worst car parks for crime.

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