Two policing divisions pooled resources during Bradford's biggest crackdown on crime and anti-social behaviour since the formation of the new-style neighbourhood policing teams two years ago.

The three-day initiative - part of Operation Snap - involved detectives, officers and police community support officers from Bradford South and Bradford North working in tandem with other agencies to deter and detect crime.

About 50 arrests were made during the operation for a variety of offences, including violence, criminal damage, traffic offences and outstanding warrants.

The operation placed a strong emphasis on anti-social use of the roads, with officers targeting illegal vehicles for lack of insurance or tax, using red diesel and carrying waste without a licence.

Police worked with staff at Bradford Council's environmental waste services and dealt with drivers of vehicles that were unlicensed to carry waste. A total of 49 vehicles were stopped and checked on the first day alone and fixed penalty fines totalling £600 were issued.

One of the drivers who was carrying waste without a licence had been stopped for the same offence last month.

A number of vehicles containing red diesel were stopped, while the DVLA and Customs and Excise staff also made prosecutions.

Dog warden services targeted stray animals and gave education and advice to dog owners, while police also dealt with nine children who were playing truant from school.

The crackdown focused on the Pollard Park, Barkerend Road, Leeds Road and Undercliffe areas of Bradford.

Inspector Gayle Lawrie, of Bradford South police, said: "The operation went very well and we targeted overall crime to create safer and cleaner communities.

"We have carried out quite a few days of action in the past but this was definitely the biggest.

"We targeted anti-social behaviour across the board, including anti-social use of the roads.

"We had various stop sites where the environmental services checked vehicles to see if they were authorised waste carriers. A lot don't have licenses and are just going places and tipping it. Each fixed penalty was £300. We also did some testing for red diesel and cars and vans were caught with red diesel.

"We also looked at insurance of vehicles because we want people to have insurance so, if something unfortunate happens, it is not made more traumatic by lack of insurance. At the same time we want people to be able to drive down the road and not be at risk of heavy objects falling from vehicles that are unlicensed and unauthorised."

Insp Lawrie said more operations would be carried out in the future across Bradford.