Rising cost of hostels 'poses risk to public'

Public safety could be jeopardised by an "astronomical" rise in the running costs of probation hostels after partial privatisation, probation officers said yesterday.

Some areas are facing a threefold rise in costs in the next financial year, according to a detailed survey of budgets by the National Association of Probation Officers (Napo).

Harry Fletcher, the Napo assistant general secretary, said half of the inmates of hostels had been convicted of serious offences. He said: "The rising costs are astronomical. Unless the Home Secretary intervenes, it will inevitably mean staff cuts and compromising public safety."

Eithne Wallis, director general of the National Probation Service, said the budgets for probation buildings would increase by less than 7 per cent.