One of Bradford's longest-serving police officers is leaving the force.

Chief Superintendent Phil Read will end his West Yorkshire police career on Friday after 30 years of service.

He will start a new venture when he joins forces with Bradford's former race relations inspector Martin Baines.

The pair, who have a combined service history of 61 years, will be working as consultants in race relations, critical incident management and community safety.

Chief Superintendent Read, said: "Leaving the force is of course an emotional time for me because I have enjoyed my 30 years of service immensely.

"However knowing that there are very exciting and challenging times ahead helps."

His career began in 1974 when he left Belle Vue Boys School in Bradford and joined the West Yorkshire Police Cadets.

A year later he was named as cadet of the year and in 1976 at the age of 19 he was posted to Bradford South.

During his time there he was stabbed five times while attempting to arrest car thieves.

Despite his injuries he guided police officers to the incident by radio and two of the three suspects were apprehended and he was awarded the annual Police Authority Trophy for Bravery.

Chief Superintendent Read said he had undergone many challenges throughout his career but he said the work he was most proud of was when he was in charge of the Bradford North division at the time of the 2001 Bradford riots.

"We had to try to restore peace in the community after the riots," he said.

"Tensions were running very high and it was incredibly challenging but very rewarding."

He said his work in the community continued when he was made head of the force's Community Safety Department.

In this role he was responsible for co-ordinating the police's community engagement work after the London Bombing in July 2005.

"This again drew out a lot of tension in the community, particularly when it transpired that the bombers were from our county," he said.

"Our job was to go out and re-build relations and reassure the community."

Chief Superintendent Read was awarded the OBE in 2004 for services to Iraq when he volunteered to go there as the UK policing adviser to the Coalition Provisional Authority. He worked in Basra and Baghdad helping the Iraqi police to rebuild its police service.

He also worked as a detective in Bradford, Keighley and Pudsey.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my challenging and rewarding career and have had the opportunity to work with some wonderful and skillful police colleagues," he said.

e-mail: jennifer.sugden@bradford.newsquest.co.uk