YORK'S crime-busting community partnership could lose a large chunk of its funding as council bosses seek ways to save cash.

Councillors have been asked to look at whether the £190,000 given to Safer York Partnership (SYP) each year could be better spent.

Council leader Steve Galloway wants to know if it would be more efficient for the council to use the money itself on crime reduction activities.

Even if the local authority continues to fund the group, he has asked for an overhaul of how it collects and presents crime figures, particularly those on antisocial behaviour.

He said: "The financial pressures on the council have been well publicised and we are currently reviewing all expenditure. There is nothing sacrosanct - we are looking at everything."

Jane Mowat, the partnership's director, said: "This money is almost all of our operational budget. The bottom line for us is that almost all our operational budget comes from the council."

The jobs of up to a dozen staff who work at the SYP headquarters in the former Clifford Street police station in Lower Friargate could be put at risk if councillors decide to take away the funding.

But leading members of the council's ruling Liberal Democrat group insist that no decisions have yet been made.

Mrs Mowat said that not only had SYP already made efficiency savings, but it had won extra funding by successfully applying for a series of Government grants.

She said that its crime-fighting projects had helped cut offences in some targeted city neighbourhoods by up to 70 per cent.

"I understand that the council is in a position where it has to make massive savings, but it seems totally illogical to me when crime is the number one priority for elected members and the public," she said.

Chief Superintendent Tim Magdwick, the York area police commander, said: "I am speaking to the council chief executive and several other people in relation to this issue and I am hopeful that they will recognise the benefits that Safer York Partnership brings to the community.

Mr Galloway said: "We've generally been very comfortable with the work SYP and recognise its contribution, but now we are in a position where we want to take the next big step forward."

:: What Safer York Partnership does

Safer York Partnership runs:

A persistent offender project that aims to address the underlying causes of offending behaviour such as drugs and alcohol.

The PACY project, a partnership between York Arclight, York Council and York Association for the Care and Reform of Offenders.

The community behaviour mediation scheme which provides a mediation service for perpetrators and a referral service.

Network 2 Mentoring which offers a mentoring service to young people at risk of getting involved in crime.

In addition to the council grant, SYP receives £25,000 each year from North Yorkshire Police as well as use of the force's buildings and other facilities. It has recently been allocated £300,000 of Home Office funds to pay for a series of projects, and an extra £25,000 to fight antisocial behaviour.

Updated: 10:23 Monday, November 22, 2004