A SCHEME to prevent youngsters in York turning to crime has become the victim of red tape.

The community policeman in Tang Hall, PC Greg Morgan, has decided to make this year's East Side Activity Project his last because he cannot take the risk of being prosecuted in the wake of an accident.

His decision is prompted by recent school trip tragedies including the deaths of Hannah Black, 13, and Rochelle Cauvert, 14, during a river walking trip in North Yorkshire in October 2000.

It means that youngsters in Tang Hall will have to take part in officially organised schemes, where they may not be grouped with local children and will miss out on positive contact with the police.

An alternative is that they will have to amuse themselves over the long summer break, increasing the risk that they will cause a nuisance or turn to crime.

PC Morgan, who has taken ten and 11-year-olds from schools in the Tang Hall area on a week-long series of day trips for the past three years, said although the scheme was very successful he could no longer take the increasing legal risks.

He said: "After accidents during school trips in France and in the Dales, I realised that I was putting myself in a strange position where I was taking responsibility for 30 kids. And what would happen if something happened to one of them?

"For the first year of the scheme I was possibly underinsured, I wasn't covered sufficiently, because I didn't realise how much cover was needed. The second year I did have adequate cover and this year I will do the same.

"I'm doing the trips this year, but I can't take that responsibility any more."

Organising the trips involves seeking funds from the ward committees and Safer York Partnership, ensuring the trip is covered by the police force's corporate insurance, checking and double checking that each venue involved has sufficient cover for accidents on their property, and ensuring that there is at least one supervisor for every ten children taking part.

PC Morgan said the scheme had a positive effect on local children and their families.

He said: "At the end of the day it's the kids that are losing out.

"It is about the legal repercussions, civil liability and civil litigation. I don't think any other officer would take the responsibility."

Walmgate ward councillor Derek Smallwood said: "PC Morgan's contribution has been a tremendous asset to the people of Tang Hall, and I'm very sad that he's finding it impossible to continue with what he's doing."

Updated: 12:42 Tuesday, April 23, 2002