MORE action is being demanded to slam the brakes on speeding and anti-social drivers across Keighley.

Calls have been made this week for increased collaboration between the police and Bradford Council to tackle the issue.

"Speeding motor vehicles is one of the main issues about which people contact me," says the town's MP, Robbie Moore.

"Even by my constituency office in North Street, there is a constant run of loud-engine cars regularly driving well over the speed limit.

"Enough is enough.

"Accidents involving motor vehicles are one of the biggest killers in this country.

"I want to see more collaboration between the police and council – plus youth services – to deal with this matter head on, as well as a bigger emphasis put on dealing with illegally-modified cars."

He said he worked closely with Inspector Khalid Khan, of Keighley Neighbourhood Policing Team, whenever constituents raised concerns about speeding motorists.

"I cannot thank him and his team enough for taking every complaint seriously and in most cases meeting with the constituent and carrying out speed surveys," added Mr Moore. "We now need to see greater investment in traffic-calming measures when speeding hotspots have been identified."

Police have revealed that across the Bradford district, a 19 per cent increase in anti-social behaviour during the past year has been mostly down to the illegal use of motor vehicles.

Figures show that over 2,000 more anti-social crimes were recorded between March 2020 and February this year ­– 12,875 – than in the corresponding period the previous year.

Chief Inspector Bash Anwar, of Bradford District Police, said: "We did record an increase in anti-social behaviour in 2020, with the majority of this due to a significant uplift in reports of the anti-social use of motor vehicles during the Covid pandemic.

"To tackle this increase, the district’s Steerside team worked seven days a week using innovative tactics to address anti-social and dangerous driving on the road network.

"In the 12 months between March 2020 and this year, the team seized 327 vehicles, made 76 arrests, issued 1,115 fixed penalty notices and summonsed 440 people to court for driving offences."

Councillor Abdul Jabar, Bradford Council’s executive member for neighbourhoods and community safety, said: "There has been a rise in anti-social behaviour in 2020 and this rise is, in my view, unacceptable.

"The council has implemented measures to tackle all kinds of anti-social behaviour including new legislation to fine vehicle litter louts and the roll-out of public space protection orders against street drinking and anti-social vehicle use.

"We will continue to strongly support the efforts of the police in tackling the scourge of anti-social behaviour and aim to increase success going forward.

"We're determined to support communities by helping as much as we can to rid them of this pernicious menace."