A CRIME-busting partnership whose work has won Home Office recognition is at risk of shedding jobs because of a funding crisis.

Key posts are under threat at the Safer York Partnership, triggering high level accusations that the City of York Council is "disinvesting" in efforts to tackle crime and disorder.

Jobs facing the axe from April 2006 are the crime reduction manager, communities and drug liaison officer, and funding and communications manager.

Jane Mowat, who heads the partnership which has seen crime fall by 70 per cent in York's worst trouble spots, said council funding had not increased in three years and a grant from its education department had been cut.

She said: "The knock-on effect has meant we have exhausted all our reserves. We can't afford to keep people on. The council says a safer city is their priority, yet they are reducing staff delivering that. It is bizarre. I think people will be horrified."

One post is funded by the Home Office until March 31, 2006.

Another was funded by the council's education directorate until that was cut earlier this year.

A project manager post will be created following the loss of the three roles.

But communications manager Carole Patrick, whose post is going in the shake-up, said: "Crime, disorder and antisocial behaviour is one of the top concerns for York residents. The remaining structure is totally inadequate to deliver our objectives."

Mrs Mowat said: "I am shocked by what is happening. I fully defend my organisation in what it delivers. Crime in York accounts for 44 per cent of crime dealt with by North Yorkshire Police. Therefore we need a robust team to deliver community safety. You need a central team pulling partners together. We have been nationally recognised by the Home Office for our work.

"It seems wrong the council seems to be almost disinvesting in that."

Council leader Steve Galloway said the education grant ceased when the post was unoccupied, but the partnership then chose to continue that post from reserves.

He said: "It was never going to be sustainable."

He said the council's annual £190,000 grant would remain the same with further investment in other initiative, such as funding two police community support officers, security lighting and gates.

Schemes in 2006 could include having a council-based police liaison officer, he said.

"We don't feel the council should be the only organisation to sponsor the Partnership. There's an opportunity for the Police Authority, Home Office and Fire Authority and private businesses, all of whom are represented on the partnership, to provide extra funding."

York MP Hugh Bayley said: "All the evidence shows public bodies do more to cut crime when they pool resources and work together. The partnership needs to remain a top priority."

Government blamed for job cuts and council tax rise

£5 MILLION. That's the figure City of York Council bosses must save across the board if they are to balance their budget for the next financial year.

The Government has handed York £37.1 million for 2006/07 - an increase of 3.2 per cent - but a settlement the authority claims still causes significant pressures.

It will mean a council tax rise of at least five per cent, and job cuts of 100.

York officials are still fuming after the Government changed its formulas for calculating the cash it gives to local government, and then withheld the extra £1.25 million to which York was entitled.

Council leader Steve Galloway was told York would get the extra cash, but it would be phased in over several years. What that meant for York residents, he said, was service cuts or a 7.5 per cent council tax increase.

At budget briefings held by the authority, council chiefs stress they are trying to keep core services intact - as far as is possible - while prioritising savings in other areas.

York has been arguing for many years that it does not get a "fair deal" from the Government.

Coun Keith Orrell, leisure and heritage chief, said: "The Government has finally accepted that the Liberal Democrats' Fair Grant campaign is justified, but it has refused to give York the £1.25 million it says we should have.

"The cash is still being diverted to areas of the south-east and London."

Updated: 09:09 Saturday, January 07, 2006