A YORK crime-fighting leader today pledged to use a £25,000 Government cash boost to make the city "beggar free".

Jane Mowat, who heads Safer York Partnership, said the money will be injected into a drive to clear the city of the unwanted beggars.

York was today named as one of 50 "trailblazer" areas who will receive extra support in tackling antisocial behaviour.

Mrs Mowat said police officers could start extra patrols to combat aggressive beggars as soon as next week to make a difference before Christmas.

She said: "The bottom line is we want to sort out begging in this city once and for all.

"A short-term proactive campaign can't solve all the problems. We need to keep the pressure up and these funds will allow us to do that."

Police chiefs plan a series of measures to combat the begging problem, including:

Setting up secure money boxes in the streets where people can donate to homeless charities

Starting a poster campaign warning generous shoppers that their money will probably be used to buy drink or drugs

Equipping Big Issue sellers with red bibs that encourage visitors to buy a copy or donate to charity.

A crackdown on beggars this summer enjoyed some short-term success, but police figures revealed that the number of beggars actually rose soon afterwards. Community beat officers joined forces with officers from the Department of Work and Pensions to track beggars who were cheating the benefits system.

Beggars were also handed warning notices telling them that their behaviour was unwanted and they could face legal action if they continued.

These moves, as well as the expansion of a database of beggars' names and backgrounds, will be repeated over the coming weeks as part of the campaign.

Earlier this year notorious drug addict beggar Jeffrey Ward was handed an Antisocial Behaviour Order (ASBO) that banned him from asking for cash in the city.

The order was the first of its kind in North Yorkshire, but the Evening Press revealed how he breached it within hours. He has since been jailed twice for other breaches.

There are 17 active ASBOs in York and 28 Acceptable behaviour Contracts (ABCs), which are often agreed with young troublemakers and their parents.

Updated: 10:23 Thursday, October 28, 2004