The Bobby in the Lobby initiative by North West Leeds Police put officers in the entrance to some of the city's main shopping centres to reassure shoppers and deter thieves in the two weeks leading up to Christmas Day.

At the Owlcotes Centre in Pudsey, reports of shoplifting and purse thefts were halved compared to the same period last year.

Inspector Richard Cawkwell, who heads the West Outer Neighbourhood Policing team, said: "We received a lot of very positive feedback from retailers and members of the public and the significant reduction in incidents speaks for itself.

"Asda's management team were particularly pleased with the impact the officers' presence had on those whose intentions were not to spend money in the store."

Officers on duty also gave out crime prevention advice and warned shoppers not to leave valuables or purchases on show in their cars. The scheme also ran at the main shopping centres and supermarkets in Bramley, Swinnow, Headingley, Kirkstall, Yeadon, Guiseley, Horsforth and Otley.