The new police chief for North Kirklees has promised tackling racial harassment will be a top priority for his officers.

Ilkley-born Superintendent Adam Briggs, 37, is the new commander of the Dewsbury sub division which includes Cleckheaton, Liversedge, Gomersal, Birkenshaw, East Bierley, Oakenshaw, Heckmondwike, Birstall, Mirfield and Batley.

He said: "We will be having a strong policy on race relations. I will not tolerate racial harassment in this sub division.

"Everybody in the community is entitled to live their lives free of harassment and it is our responsibility to help them do that. We will be launching a divisional race relations strategy in April, looking at issues such as repeat victimisation.

"We will also be putting a sergeant in charge of investigating racial incidents thoroughly, there will be closer consultation with the community and we will be working in partnership with organisations such as the Kirklees Racial Equality Council.''

He revealed there were 105 racial incidents in 1998 - up by a about a quarter on the previous year. They ranged from verbal abuse to physical attacks.

Father-of-three Supt Briggs said the sub division would also be encouraging more people from the ethnic minorities to become special constables. At present only three out of 32 specials are Asian.

He said other divisional priorities included tackling burglaries, drug dealing and car crime, increasing the detection rate and making more efficient use of police resources.

He revealed 41 people had been arrested for burglaries in the Spen Valley over two weeks.

Supt Briggs has taken over from Superintendent Steve Banks who is now in charge of training and development at the West Yorkshire Police headquarters in Wakefield. He had been the divisional head for two years.

Supt Briggs lives in Huddersfield and is rugby union fan.

He has been in the force for 19 years, including six years as a sergeant and detective sergeant in Bradford. He worked on rape and child abuse cases during his spell in the city.

He was previously chief inspector of personnel at Dewsbury police station for nine months and his wife Nova, is a PC based in Huddersfield.

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