James Perkins has always dreamed of joining the police.

Aged 16, his days are normally spent in the classroom studying for a GNVQ in leisure and tourism at Shipley College.

But as part of what is thought to be a unique anti-crime initiative, the teenager has been getting out of the classroom and joining the police on the beat in Shipley.

James is one of about 20 students, aged between 16 and 19, who have signed up as volunteers with the multi-agency Shipley Constituency Anti-Crime Partnership.

And following a training session with crime reduction officer - PC Jez Moore - and daily briefings, the young crimebusters are now hitting the streets with their new partners.

Volunteers working on a rota basis are being paired up with bobbies for a series of two-hour patrols.

They form part of the annual pre-Christmas anti-crime crackdown focusing on the town centre and Saltaire and aimed at making shoppers feel safer and deterring car crime and would-be pickpockets, shoplifters, muggers and troublemakers.

A rainy day in Shipley town centre saw James and fellow student Melanie Smith, 19, donning fluorescent jackets with 'Shipley Constituency Anti-Crime Volunteer' printed on the back and teaming up with PCs Ian Hemsworth and Steve Middleton.

The officers and the young crimebusters spent a two-hour shift touring the town centre and its car parks, giving vehicle security advice to motorists and crime-prevention tips to shoppers.

The youngsters stay with the officers at all times and have been instructed to withdraw immediately should any confrontation develop.

Following a quick assessment of whether parked vehicles may be at risk because they have been left unlocked or with valuables on view, the volunteers complete a checklist pointing out any problems and leave a leaflet giving crime prevention advice while motorists are spoken to in person if they are with their vehicles.

Meanwhile the student/police teams are giving tips on things such as bag, purse and wallet security to members of the public with the volunteers also acting as a second pair of eyes for the PCs in busy shopping areas.

James, of Shipley, was one of a group of students presented with certificates after helping police give out crime prevention advice during the Cop and Shop event in Shipley earlier in the autumn. He said: "I've always wanted to join the police so when I heard about this, I decided to give it a whirl.

"Everyone we've spoken to out in the town has been really co-operative and have said they think it's a good idea.''

Motorist Rita Williams, 53, of Shipley, said she had been more than happy to be given vehicle security advice by James, adding: "I think it's a great idea to be getting them involved in something like this at a young age.''

'A' level student Melanie, of Cottingley, who hopes to become a lawyer, said: "It's helping me find out about different aspects of the law, gets more people out on to the street with the crime-prevention message and gives people a chance to speak to someone who might be a bit more on their wavelength.''

PC Hemsworth said: "I think it's great that young people are so keen to get involved with this and the people out on the streets seem to be taking it very well.''

Another volunteer, Usman Mahmood, 19, of Heaton - who is doing a GNVQ in business - said: "We're learning about crime prevention ourselves and I've been really surprised at how many people leave their cars unlocked or with money on view.

"I like the fact we're doing something to make people more aware of crime prevention and hopefully this will do a bit to help cut crime."

Nadeem Khaliq, 18, who is on the same course, added: "It's great to feel you're doing something to help the community and it's giving a fresh approach to something the police do day in day out.

"It's a bit different to the studying we normally do and is helping us develop communication skills.''

Inspector Nigel Cawthorne of Shipley police said: "It's got a three-fold benefit - for us, the students and members of the public.

"It's increasing our visibility in the community and giving us more pairs of eyes to spot crime opportunities and give people crime prevention advice.

"The students are putting themselves in the shoes of criminals and identifying opportunities where thefts could take place such as insecure vehicles, valuables being left on show in cars, wallets on view in back pockets or vulnerable purses and handbags.

"Young people are often painted as a threat or as yobs but something like this just shows there's another side and that in the main they are willing to help support the police and their communities.

The inspector said it was hoped to repeat the patrols in the future, adding: "We'll be looking at other areas where the volunteers may be able to assist us."