DRUGS crime and anti-social behaviour is deterring many people from spending time in Keighley town centre, it is claimed.

Police and partner organisations have been praised for their efforts to tackle the problems.

But it's alleged more work needs to be done, including educating young people about the dangers of taking and dealing drugs.

Children are getting involved as dealers from a young age and some are being drawn into sexual exploitation by the same "evil" gangs, according to the town's MP Robbie Moore.

He says tackling drugs crime is among his priorities, and he has led a Parliamentary debate on the issue.

Mr Moore told the Keighley News: "Countless concerned constituents have contacted me about this.

"Drug dealing happens in broad daylight. The evil filth who get involved in supplying and dealing should hang their heads in shame.

"I like to sing from the rooftops about all that is great in our area, but I would be failing if I did not draw attention to the problems plaguing our communities so we can have a real chance of solving them.

"It is vital that steps are taken to educate young people about the dangers of drug dealing and taking, and that support is in place to help people who have already fallen foul to drug addiction.

"Given that drug dealing, gang violence and anti-social behaviour happens so openly, people are put off spending time in the town centre – which has an unhealthy impact on the local economy."

He adds that the Government recently introduced a ten-year strategy to clamp down on drugs crime, backed by billions of pounds of investment.

Keighley town mayor, Councillor Julie Adams, pays tribute to the work being done by the police. But she says the judicial system needs to ensure appropriately-tough sentences are imposed.

"I think the police do a great job with the resources they have but when people are arrested and charged it's important the courts follow that through," she said. "Sentences for the ring leaders must match the crimes and provide a deterrent."

Inspector John Barker, head of Keighley Neighbourhood Policing Team, says the force takes drugs crime "extremely seriously".

He said that last year, Keighley Police recorded 255 crimes related to possession and trafficking of drugs.

"We know the devastating impact drugs have on our community," he added.

"There is a significant amount of proactive work ongoing across the Keighley area to tackle serious and organised crime, which is often linked to drugs supply and trafficking in communities.

"Neighbourhood policing teams work alongside detectives and specialist officers in the Programme Precision team to tackle these crimes. Detection of a lot of drugs offences is reliant on proactive operations conducted by officers as well as working on intelligence provided by the community, which plays a vital role. We always act on intelligence and this often results in multiple arrests and drugs seizures during pre-planned operations to disrupt and dismantle any organised criminality.

"Through working with the Keighley Together Partnership, we aim to reduce the impact that serious and organised crime has on people living and working in Keighley Central ward.

"In recent weeks we have made a number of arrests for drugs offences and executed several warrants. There has been a significant amount of cannabis farms disrupted and dismantled in Keighley alone; one of the recent seizures of cannabis had a street value in excess of £100,000. Our proactive and intelligence-led patrols in Keighley most recently have seen a man charged and remanded with drugs and proceeds of crime offences. He is now going through the court process.

"I would encourage anyone who has information about drugs supply in their communities to contact the police via 101 or online at westyorkshire.police.uk/contactus. Or if you prefer, information can be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."