Specially-formed police squads have hit the streets of Bradford to halt a growing spate of car-jackings.

Officers pledged to 'take the game' to the criminals as they launched the unprecedented operation across the city. In a bid to snare the gangs behind a string of attacks, undercover units equipped with the latest technology have teamed up with some of the force's most highly-trained drivers.

Over the last three weeks, car-jackers have targeted 16 motorists across the district, generally employing two favoured techniques. The first involves them 'bumping' their target vehicles to cause a diversion, then, once the driver gets out, their keys are snatched and the car driven away. The other method sees thieves lying in wait at car parks for drivers to emerge before they pounce.

Detective Sergeant Dave McHugh said: "We now have a team of detectives investigating these matters while an ongoing operation is designed to prevent more occurring."

Undercover officers have been staking out car parks, immediately confronting anyone they suspect of planning an attack. Meanwhile, other plain-clothed teams have set up in strategic points in the city where intelligence suggests that offenders might strike.

The units are armed with cameras which can read number-plates and instantly alert them to stolen vehicles or those wanted in connection with other suspected crimes.

"Over a three-hour period yesterday, this ran checks on 1,700 cars in the Manningham area - using the traditional methods, two officers would do about four an hour," he said.

Parked close to each 'spotter' vehicle are two marked patrol cars in constant radio contact, ready to react in seconds.

Over three days this week, the operation has seen five people arrested, including two suspected car thieves, and two vehicles recovered, one believed to have been used in a car-jacking.

It also saw one man held on immigration matters and dozens of road-tax evaders identified.