City officials are making a last-ditch attempt to preserve the independence of a unit which tackles race and homophobic hate crimes.

Councillors Paul Elgood and Jenny Barnard-Langston have asked Brighton and Hove City Council to debate how the city's anti-victimisation unit will be managed when government funding dries up at the end of September.

This includes demands to keep an independent manager at the unit at the police station in John Street, Brighton.

The unit's project manager is Jonny Aldis but his job is expected to end in two weeks due to lack of funds.

Coun Elgood said: "Although the council is quick to say it has found funding for the project to continue, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community's leaders are uneasy with the way it plans to manage the project.

"Most people want to see an independent manager who has nothing to do with the police or the council.

"Putting the issue to a full council meeting is a last-ditch attempt to save the post."

The motion, tabled for the meeting on Thursday, also requests the city's MPs lobby the Home Secretary to reconsider the decision to pull funding at the unit.

The unit was set up last year to tackle the lack of confidence felt by marginal communities in the police's ability to respond to hate crimes.

At the time, the Home Office pledged £1.2 million for the project. But in July unit organisers were told funding would stop at the end of September.

Police, the council and the Safer Communities Fund and Partnership Development Fund agreed to provide the £100,000 needed to keep it going until January 2003.

A council spokesman said: "The future of the work of the initiative is being carefully considered.

"It is likely to continue with the development of a partnership arrangement and the establishment of an outposted joint community safety team.

"The council has an absolute commitment to continuing this important work."