A councillor is urging police to find new ways of recruiting more neighbourhood watch co-ordinators on Keighley's housing estates.

Councillor Lynne Joyce (Lab, Keighley South) has called on the police to encourage more people living in areas such as Braithwaite and Guardhouse to join schemes.

Her calls came after crime prevention officer PC Steve Littlewood told Keighley and Ilkley Crime Prevention Panel that police were still having difficulties getting neighbourhood watches off the ground in some areas like Braithwaite.

He said: "We have got two or three neighbourhood watches organised in Bracken Bank which are brilliant and provide us with top-class information.

"I would love to get other areas involved in neighbourhood watch - it is just identifying how to do it."

Coun Joyce said: "If people aren't responding to the formula police and neighbourhood watch co-ordinators are using, then maybe it is time to change it.

"There is a perception that neighbourhood watch is a middle-class thing which is counter-productive and I think we need to counteract that.

"If there is some good communication from Bracken Bank, maybe people there can be asked to sell it to other areas."

PC Littlewood added that police and neighbourhood watch co-ordinators were still finding it difficult to enlist support from members of the Asian community.

He said the reticence stemmed from a desire within the Asian community to sort out its own problems independently.

However he reassured members that neighbourhood watches in the Keighley area were still thriving and providing good information.

Panel vice-chairman Geoffrey Vere added that the police and panel should ensure that "people power" was utilised to the full.

Along with neighbourhood watch co-ordinator Heather Chapman, Mr Vere has also written to Home Secretary Jack Straw calling for greater support and financial backing for neighbourhood watch schemes.

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