JUSTICE Secretary Ken Clarke has been accused of ignoring safety fears amid plans to privatise York’s controversial Southview probation hostel.

Labour council leader James Alexander contacted the minister in June to highlight his concerns about the potential impact if a private company was appointed to run the hostel in Boroughbridge Road.

In an email, he said his fear was for the management of high and high-risk-of-harm offenders in the community as a private company sought to reduce costs to make a profit.

“Residents already have concerns about the location of the facility but the approved premise is well run,” he said. “Privatisation of this premise will exacerbate residents’ concerns.”

Coun Alexander, whose Holgate ward includes the hostel, claimed that his email and a reminder had been ignored.

“This is an issue of concern for residents in my ward and also the wider community,” he said.

“There is much apprehension over privatising such a facility to make a quick buck. The lack of information being given to residents by the Conservative Liberal Democrat Government about the issue is striking.

“It really is unacceptable for Ken Clarke to ignore correspondence over this important issue. City of York Council wants to work constructively with the Government for the better of York residents and situations like this do not support this endeavour.”

The Ministry of Justice said in June that privatising such premises was under consideration but no final decision had been made, and it also said there was no evidence to suggest that savings made to the Probation Service would compromise public protection.

A spokesman said a number of such “approved premises” were already run effectively by independent organisations, and all providers had to meet the same rigorous standards.

The Ministry responded yesterday to Coun Alexander’s complaints by saying: “The Ministry of Justice has received this correspondence and will reply shortly.

The purpose of approved premises has for many years been to supervise high-risk offenders in the community, a number of which are already run effectively by independent organisations. All providers must meet the same rigorous standards.

“No final decisions have been made on competing out approved premises and there is no evidence to suggest that savings made to the Probation Service will compromise public protection. Approved premises are designed specifically to protect the public and this will remain paramount in the future.”