A TOP York policeman has given his backing to a bid to bring street wardens onto the city's streets.

Chief Superintendent John Lacy said North Yorkshire Police would give "100 per cent support" to a City of York Council move for wardens to patrol crime-hit streets.

The council is to submit a revised bid for joint Home Office and Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions funding for the proposal, following an earlier bid which was turned down last year.

Council chiefs have now opted to back a scheme covering 21 wards from Guildhall to Upper Poppleton.

The wardens would care for the physical appearance of streets, deter anti-social behaviour and help reduce crime.

Ward committees which have submitted cash towards the scheme costing £257,000 are likely to see a greater street warden presence than those which have not, should the bid be given the green light.

The previous application was to fund a team of between ten and 15 wardens for a city-wide scheme.

But following the intervention of the Home Secretary, the city was advised to resubmit the bid to target areas with high crime levels.

Chief Supt Lacy told the Evening Press: "I would love more police officers and a fully-resourced police service but I am realistic that this won't happen, at least in the short term.

"So I fully support street wardens. It is what many residents want. It will give an increased presence on the streets and help lessen the load on an already creaking police service in York."

He added the scheme was also backed by Chief Constable David Kenworthy, who announced yesterday that he is to retire towards the end of the year.

Coun Bob Scrase, executive member for community safety and local affairs, said: "The indications are that the Government would look favourably at a revised bid that was more targeted.

"What is clear from the last two years, in the latest crime audit, is that while crime has gone down, fear of crime has increased."

Street wardens would only have civilian powers, but they would be uniformed and would have radios to keep them in contact with the police and council.

If funding is approved wardens could be on the streets by the autumn.

Updated: 08:53 Thursday, May 09, 2002