A six-month operation has been launched to tackle “hard core” boozers who plague Bradford city centre with their rowdiness, begging and harassment of shoppers.

The alcoholics, who can number up to 40, cause anti-social behaviour on a daily basis and have plagued city centre shoppers and workers for years, according to police.

City centre traders said it was “about time” police cracked down on the problem, but questioned whether six months would be long enough to banish the boozers.

City Ward Neighbourhood Policing Team Inspector Kevin Pickles said the aim was to get alcoholics into treatment to break the cycle of drinking and offending, as well as preventing the bad behaviour.

The operation will focus on enforcement, test purchase initiatives, anti-social behaviour orders and referrals.

But businesses in the Northgate area of the city centre said six months would not be long enough to clear the area of the nuisance.

Jeff Frankel, who runs Sydney’s jewellers, said customers were scared away by rowdy drunks and drug addicts who harassed people with loud and abusive behaviour.

“It’s about time the police took action,” he said.

Mr Frankel said shops had been asked to keep a log of offenders causing a nuisance, but nothing had improved.

“Coming to work and having to step over empties is an everyday occurrence for us. They drink and take their methadone right outside our windows. It scares customers away.”

Yvonne Denton, who owns the Truly Scrumptious cafe, said spot-checks and a continual police presence were desperately needed.

She said: “When the police come the problem vanishes but within minutes of officers going, the problem-makers come back. They are here early in the morning pestering people for cigs and money and they get louder as the day goes on. They sit on our chairs outside, openly sell their methadone and drink their bottles of cider and wine that they just leave lying around.”

Read more on this story in Friday's T&A.