Campaign bids to rid Bradford of dangerous driving tag

Noreen Akhtar is Bradford Council's Assistant Director of Neighbourhoods and Community Services

A senior council official has said she is determined to help Bradford rid itself of its reputation as a dangerous place to drive.

Noreen Akhtar said she was "committed" to making the city's roads safer.

Ms Akhtar, Bradford Council's Assistant Director of Neighbourhoods and Community Services, spoke out during a week-long crackdown to mark the fifth anniversary of Operation Steerside.

Launched in 2019, the operation has led to more than 500 arrests.

West Yorkshire Police seized 33 vehicles and made four arrests during the first four days of a week of action in Bradford

Speaking to the BBC, Ms Akhtar said: "You know in Bradford we have a culture of people [who] like to have cars, like to drive cars, like to drive nice cars.

"And we celebrate that. What we're not celebrating is people making ill-use of their cars, using their cars for illegal purposes.

"We are committed to making sure that the place that our kids grow up, and parents are in, is safe.

"And the perception of Bradford is changed; that we are a safe city."

Operation Steerside was launched to target offences including the dangerous use of vehicles such as quad bikes.

The partnership sees West Yorkshire Police work alongside Bradford Council, the DVLA, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and schools.

Since Monday, officers have dealt with 69 motorists for a variety of driving offences, seized 33 vehicles for document and road tax offences and made four arrests.

In total, over the past five years police have seized more than 2,300 vehicles, issued more than 11,500 penalties and arrested 520 people.