POLICING in Silsden topped the bill again at last week's town council meeting, with a one hour discussion on the issue.

Inspector Mark Allsop, one of two neighbourhood team inspectors in Keighley, attended the meeting with Acting Sergeant Craig Stothers.

Insp Allsop told councillors Silsden not only had one of the lowest crime rates across the Keighley district, but across the country.

In August 2005, the town saw no serious or other violent crimes and just two house burglaries and one vehicle crime. Four youth nuisance crimes were recorded for the month, with 59 being recorded over the last year. A total of 152 crimes of anti-social behaviour were recorded over the year.

When equated to crimes per 1,000 people, the percentage for anti-social behaviour was 17.4 per cent, compared to 39 per cent across the division and 53.3 per cent across the force.

Insp Allsop said: "Silsden is quite lucky to have low crime and a low anti-social behaviour rate compared to the rest of the force."

He said Home Office figures showed that when placed in a league table, Keighley appeared at the top end, having the third lowest crime figures and robbery rates.

He added: "This goes to show Silsden is particularly low, but even considering comparative divisions, it is lower than what the majority of people across the country are facing."

When looking at annual crime figures, Insp Allsop told members burglaries were down from five to three, theft of motor vehicles down from five to zero, while damage to vehicles was down from 19 to 14. Theft from vehicles was up from one to two.

Insp Allsop confirmed Acting Sgt Stothers, who had previously worked as a PC for Silsden, would no longer be walking the Craven beat, but was being replaced by PC Pete Merryfield. He also said it was hoped more Police Community Support Officers would be joining Keighley.

He added: "Craig has done a very good job out here."

But Coun Alan Edwards felt the town was still not getting enough police presence: "I feel on this council we have the same arguments year after year. We had our police station taken away from us, it was sold for £250,000 and we have not even been offered a cupboard."

Coun Keith Savage thanked Acting Sgt Stothers for his hard work and doing a "marvellous" job with youths in the town.

He added: "I hear what you are saying inspector, you have a thankless job and your hands are tied behind your back most of the time. But what I don't think people can understand is the population of the town has gone up.

"Back in the 1960s and 70s we had four or five police officers stationed in Silsden, we have now lost that facility. It is all very well giving figures, but they don't mean a thing, it is seeing a policeman on the street."

Meanwhile, Coun Chris Atkinson said he still wanted to see West Yorkshire Chief Constable Colin Cramphorn address Silsden Town Council.

He said: "I won't let it go, it is disgusting."

o Craven ward councillor Andrew Mallinson confirmed he had negotiated £25,000 from the sale of Silsden Police Station towards the town's long-awaited contact point. He said he would be applying for other funding, including £20,000 from Bradford Council. He added that he may look to the town council to stump up the rent for the new building.