YORK'S political leaders today united to accuse the right-wing British National Party of exploiting local fears over a controversial probation hostel.

Leaflets saying the party would bring back hanging for convicted paedophiles are being circulated by the BNP to homes and businesses near Southview Hostel, in Boroughbridge Road, York.

A spokesman for the BNP said today: "We have not politicised the issue. It has come about from people expressing their concerns to our local members in the area."

A joint statement from Labour group leader Coun Dave Merrett, Liberal leader Coun Steve Galloway and Conservative leader Coun John Galvin, says they "acknowledge that parents (or residents) in the area have very real and understandable concerns about the changes to the hostel.

"We take these very seriously and will continue to ensure these concerns are listened to and addressed.

"Equally, we deplore the way that the BNP has abused the legitimate concerns of local people just for their own political ends, and agree that we will oppose any moves to further politicise this issue by any political party."

The condemnation of the BNP came as York MP Hugh Bayley put an eight-point plan for Southview to Prisons and Probation Minister Hilary Benn, following angry public meetings about the hostel in York last week.

The simmering row was sparked by Evening Press revelations that a Government ruling means hostels like Southview can now house serious offenders such as paedophiles and murderers.

In his letter to the Minister, Mr Bayley claimed that the "hostile reaction" to the issue could have been avoided if the probation service had explained what was happening last year.

He said last autumn he had called for a public meeting - but the idea had been rejected.

Mr Bayley's questions to the Home Office include:

- Will the Home Office instruct Chief Probation Officers to share information with the public?

- Can new hostels be sited away from schools?

- Can Multi-Agency Public Protection Panels exclude sex offenders if deemed unsafe?

- Can curfew conditions be tightened?

- Will the Government introduce unlimited sentences for offenders deemed a permanent danger?

- Will Labour's new sex offender orders be used to tag and restrict the activities of offenders living at Southview Hostel, and elsewhere in York?

- Will lay representatives be appointed to probation supervisory bodies?

- Will the Government make public service announcements about "stranger danger"?

Mr Bayley said: "Everyone who has contacted me will receive a copy of these points and, when it arrives, a copy of the Minister's reply.

"I understand why people are worried, but we should not overreact. Unfortunately there have always been paedophiles in York. What has changed is that we now put them on a sex offenders register and watch them more closely. That is why some are in hostels instead of living in ordinary housing."

Updated: 14:18 Wednesday, October 02, 2002