BURGLARIES are on the increase across the area - but police insist that they are successfully cracking down on offenders.

The number of burglaries between April last year and January increased in Otley, Yeadon, Rawdon and, most notably, in Horsforth. Burglaries increased in Horsforth from 159 during the same period last year, to 267.

Only Guiseley and the villages of Bramhope, Pool-in-Wharfedale and Arthington showed decreases.

Weetwood Police's new Divisional Commander, Francis Habgood, said: "The number of burglary dwellings has increased across the city and this area is no exception. There has been a 34 per cent increase in Horsforth but this has now plateaued out and we need to see that go down.

"We have taken out a number of people who were largely responsible for the burglaries."

Car crimes had also increased in Horsforth, although it was pointed out that those figures did include Kirkstall and Burley, Leeds, and that a number of arrests had made a significant impact in this area. Forum chairman Mark Harris said: "At the end of the day there are too many crimes for too few police officers. They are pulled from pillar to post.

" It is an extremely difficult job and I have got tremendous sympathy with the staffing and resources they have got."

After the meeting, Councillor Brian Cleasby (Lib Dem, Horsforth) called for a new police station in Horsforth, as Otley's crime figures were considerably better. He was concerned that Horsforth would get a bad name.