For the families left terrorised by the spate of vicious gold robberies that has blighted Bradford over the past few weeks, a new pro-active campaign to tackle the problem comes too late.

But by enlisting the jewellers, pawnbrokers and gold dealers to sign up to a new voluntary scheme to help identify anyone trying to sell on stolen gold, the police are taking action that could help to reduce risks to others.

The recent robberies have been horrific, and have included a mum being attacked in her home and tied up and householders being robbed by hammer and gun wielding thugs.

There is an issue in terms of people exposing themselves to risk and anyone who does keep large amounts of jewellery, particularly gold, in their homes, needs to closely examine whether they really need to do this, and make sure if they do, their security is the best it can be.

Equally, though, people do have a right to feel safe with their possessions at home.

Arrests have been made in some of these cases, but police have now stepped up their campaign against the robberies by enlisting businesses in the city.

The so-called Gold Standard tightens up existing security relating to shops buying jewellery, and gives shops more information about items that have been stolen.

It will obviously be welcomed by all legitimate traders, but it will hopefully serve as a warning to anyone who has got hold of stolen gold that it will be very difficult to get rid off it.

These attacks have hit people where they should have felt at their safest – their homes.

Everything that can be done must be done to protect other families from becoming victims of this worrying and vicious new trade.