Southview Hostel in York's Boroughbridge Road was plunged into controversy last year following Evening Press revelations that it could house serious offenders. Reporter MATTHEW WOODCOCK, pictured, who broke the story, was invited to go inside.

EVERY morning, without fail, Paul puts on a shirt and tie before leaving Southview Hostel in Boroughbridge Road.

He doesn't want people to know he has served time in prison and says they never suspect if he dresses smartly.

Prior to September 7 last year he was generally happy to let people know where he lived - not so now.

Things changed when the Evening Press revealed that Southview's status had been changed from a bail hostel to an "all-purpose" hostel which can house serious offenders such as paedophiles and murderers.

The local community - most of whom were not told of the change - reacted with shock and outrage, as the hostel is close to Poppleton Road Primary School.

Hostel manager Bev Corney and other representatives from the North Yorkshire Probation Service faced residents at a packed public meeting. They apologised to those who were not consulted and initiated proposals to allay public fears - such as moving the time of the residents' morning meeting so it didn't clash with the school run.

Residents, like Paul and John, were unhappy with the Evening Press coverage, claiming it made them all out to be serious offenders.

But they accept the community had a right to be informed.

Paul, 50, who has been living in the hostel for ten months, said he took pills to ease the stress it caused.

"I like to socialise, but there is no way I could tell people that I live at 18 Boroughbridge Road," he told the Evening Press.

"They may like me, but if they found out that would be it.

"It means I'm forced to lie.

"We agree that it was justified (informing the public), but it made out everyone in here was either a murderer, rapist or paedophile, and that is just not true.

"This place has been a lifeline for me. I couldn't have been put straight out into the community."

John, 51, said: "I can quite understand people's misgivings about the hostel, but there is sensible reporting and scare-mongering.

"People who have been in prison need to get back into society. We've got to be able to go to the shops and communicate with other people."

The hostel has 16 basic, stuffy rooms. It can accommodate up to 20 men, who are regularly drug-tested and made to abide by strict rules and tight curfews. It is well secured and monitored by 28 CCTV cameras.

Entertainment consists of a pool table, and a TV which is not switched on for parts of the day.

Southview's purpose is to help offenders stop offending and make something of their lives.

Residents - who are thoroughly risk-assessed before being admitted - follow individual action plans designed to rehabilitate them back into the community.

"We're trying to get offenders to live in the community and live within the law," Ms Corney said.

"If you stick someone in a house on the moors, all you're doing is delaying the inevitable. They will come back to the cities.

"I know people are not pleased to have us here, but we try to look after our neighbours.

"I never intended not to be open with people about the changes.

Updated: 09:37 Tuesday, May 27, 2003