Police today declared war on criminals using the roads by introducing a hi-tech camera ‘ring of steel’ stretching from Bradford city centre to Keighley.

The 24-hour digital anti-crime network, funded by West Yorkshire Police and Bradford Council, combines CCTV and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and is one of the most sophisticated in the country.

The £300,000 state-of-the-art system brings 80 hi-tech fixed cameras on line and expands on the existing ‘ring of steel’.

The system helped solve several major crimes in Bradford, including the capture of the murderers of PC Sharon Beshenivsky in Bradford in 2005.

Between November 2008 and October this year more than 400 arrests were made across the district as a result of ANPR.

To mark the upgrade, police today started a week-long campaign to identify and arrest offenders using the district’s roads, bolstered with mobile ANPR cars from all four Yorkshire police forces.

The operation focusses on wanted burglars and those who have stolen cars from burglaries, which will ‘trip’ the cameras when they pass them, allowing police units to pursue them.

Police are also cracking down on uninsured drivers. Any uninsured cars will also trigger the cameras, allowing authorities to pinpoint their location.

Police and Bradford Coun-cil are installing machines in the centre of Bradford and Keighley to crush seized uninsured cars.

Agencies taking part in the week’s operation include the DVLA, Hackney Carriage Licensing, Revenue and Customs and VOSA.

Chief Superintendent Allan Doherty, Airedale and North Bradford Divisional Commander, said: “The launch of our new ANPR system is a milestone for the Bradford district which significantly enhances the capability of an excellent system which has been proven to fight crime.

“By expanding its capability from Bradford city centre to Keighley and surrounding areas for the first time, our ‘ring of steel’ is now stronger than ever.

“It truly gives us potential to strike fear into criminals who think they can get around the district unseen.

“This operation follows months of detailed planning and will see us draw in resources from across Yorkshire in a focus on burglars and uninsured drivers.

“We are aware of the anger lawful motorists feel to others flouting the rules and I hope the scale of this effort will reassure residents that we are all dedicated to tackling this problem.

“To any drivers who are uninsured, I would suggest you insure your vehicles now, as I can assure you that you will be caught and we will be hitting you where it hurts – in your pocket.”