A NEW crime-busting strategy to make York's streets safer was today criticised by senior councillors for lacking detail.

Both the Liberal Democrat and Labour leaders questioned the draft Community Safety Plan, drawn up by Safer York Partnership.

The eighth draft outlines how the community partnership intends to meet Government goals and cut York crime by 22 per cent in York by 2008.

But council leader Steve Galloway said that - although there was much to praise in the document, like raising the profile of the problem of speeding drivers - the blueprint was "problematic". He said: "There is clearly a considerable amount of work still to be done, yet timescales for its submission rule out deferral.

"It would not be practical for the council to seek to amend the text in the kind of detail required to make the document acceptable."

The Liberal Democrat leader said the plan was weak at identifying and measuring current crime trends. He added there were insufficient targets addressing "street level problems", such as noisy neighbours, graffiti and abusive behaviour.

Labour leader Dave Merrett said the plan needed tightening, especially over issues such as yob behaviour and alcohol-fuelled violence.

He said: "We would like to see more specific information about how anti-social behaviour will be dealt with. We recognise it is a difficult issue and that can make it hard to get to grips with. Nevertheless we think residents want to see tangible improvements on issues like out of control gangs, antisocial behaviour and vandalism. We would like to see that reflected in the plan with specific actions and targets."

Jane Mowat, pictured, director of the partnership, admitted there were differences with the council over the content of the strategy, which she said was designed to tackle the most serious offences, such as drug dealing, burglary and violent crime, while working with police, firefighters, health officials and drug workers.

She said: "We have had a bit of conflict with the council over this. We are aware there is some concern in the council about some of the other community safety issues of lower-level nuisance."

Key areas in the plan were identified after a crime audit and community consultation.

Mrs Mowat said a combination of a flexible, top-level strategy backed by more detailed action plans and community policing, would ensure all areas of community safety get equal attention.

Executive members agreed the partnership should be informed about the council's concerns before the crime-busting plan was finalised.

The criticism follows a row over whether the council should pull the plug on its £180,000 funding for SYP. Members agreed to continue the financing the body, but Coun Galloway asked for an overhaul on how it collects figures, particularly those on anti-social behaviour.

Updated: 09:53 Saturday, April 09, 2005