The new blitz on crime and litter on Bradford's estates, starting with the Windhill area of Shipley, is a useful partnership initiative between the police and Bradford Council's street-cleaning service.

A strong police presence in the area, committed to tackling crime at all levels including anti-social behaviour, should send out a strong message to the criminals that their activities (which are largely drugs-related thefts and acts of vandalism) will not be tolerated.

The campaign appears to have got off to a good start. Warrants have already been issued and arrests made for a variety of crimes. This, in turn, should help to reassure the law-abiding, caring majority of residents and make them feel happier about the area in which they live. And that, hopefully, will lead to increased pride and a greater commitment to keep the estate tidy.

As their part of the initiative, council officers are removing graffiti, clearing up rubbish from public areas (with the help of Shipley Community Housing Trust), cutting grass verges and repairing potholes in roads and pavements.

That is a good start. How clean and tidy this estate and others which are subsequently to get the same treatment remain once the council workers have moved on is largely up to the people who live on them. As one Windhill resident told the T&A, it is the few people who fail to maintain their houses and gardens who spoil things.

The rest need to try that bit harder to keep their properties and the area around them in good order in the hope of shaming the scruffy minority into mending their ways.