YORK is seen as a "desirable place" for criminals from across the country to call home, says a report which has caused outrage at a city resettlement centre.

Bosses at the York Association for Care and Rehabilitation of Offenders (YACRO), in Walmgate, have challenged a study suggesting the city is a dumping ground for ex-offenders from elsewhere.

The report, the York Shadow Supporting People Strategy, is on the website of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

It states that: "The supported accommodation provided by York Association for Care and Rehabilitation of Offenders (YACRO) takes ex-offenders from other local authority areas, and York is seen as a desirable place to be resettled."

Chiefs at YACRO today expressed alarm at the comments, maintaining its priority was York people - a view echoed by the Safer York Partnership.

The offending document, written with the support of City of York Council, the National Probation Service and Selby and York Primary Care Trust, helps the authorities manage Government grants and offers guidelines on treating offenders after their release from jail.

Pat Smith, YACRO director, said: "This statement really concerns me. Our priority is the needs of the people of York.

"We have 34 spaces within the scheme, and 27 of those are filled by local residents."

Carole Patrick, of the Safer York Partnership, said: "I personally wouldn't approve of this. We would not want to invite worse problems than the ones we already have."

Jim Crook, the council's director of community services, said: "If people are to move here, it is better that supervision and support is there than not."

Peter Hart, senior probation officer at North Yorkshire Probation Service, said: "We have a stipulation with YACRO that they will consult us before taking anyone in. This is to stop inappropriate referrals."

Updated: 10:26 Wednesday, March 17, 2004