The Government has been accused of turning Enfield into an "open prison" after setting up five hostels for criminals released early from prison.

And Enfield Police have also criticised the Govern-ment of failing in its duty of consultation by setting up the accommodation.

The hostels, established by housing provider ClearSprings on behalf of the Government, are not bail hostels, which are secure and monitored 24-hours-a-day.

Instead they are just a way of rehousing people in society, including those on early release from prison or who have been charged with an offence and released on bail.

Enfield Police chief Adrian Hanstock said: "We weren't consulted and we're currently working with Clearsprings to ask them what their definition of consultation is.

"If we had been consulted we would have helped them manage it a little bit better."

According to Cllr Ertan Hurer, the hostels have all been set up in Edmonton, in Croyland Road, Harr-ington Terrace, Haselbury Road, Hawthorne Road, Hendon Road, Montagu Road, Nelson Road and Tramway Avenue, and four out of five are fully operational.

He said: "Already our drug intervention programme is down to the bone.

These people tend to need a lot of care, a lot of counselling - unless we know where they are how can we prepare for them?"

Councillor Matthew Laban, who recently took over the community safety portfolio from Cllr Hurer, said: "The Government is making Enfield into an open prison.

"I wonder whether (Home Secretary) Mr (Jack) Straw would be happy for his family to live next door to one of these hostels?"

Local neighbourhood watch co-ordinator Nichola Lay, 58, a Wellington Avenue resident, said she and her neighbours had all found out about the plans through the press, which made her feel the general public had been treated with "contempt".

"It has all been done very much under the table," she said.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "It is simply not true to say that bail accommodation is being opened in secret.

"ClearSprings is under a contractual obligation to consult in areas where they are to open bail accommodation. Any reports that it has failed to do so will be investigated."