No Place Of Safety

Robert Barnard returns to contemporary Leeds for the memorably downscale story of The Centre, a temporary hostel for homeless young people. Ben Marchant, who opened The Centre after winning the lottery, allows his charges to remain only a fortnight, all except for Alan Coughlan and Katy Bourne, two fellow-students who'd barely heard of each other till they ran away together, and who are now ensconced in The Centre indefinitely. But Alan and Katy's unusual status doesn't bother black copper Charlie Peace as much as the possibility that The Centre may be no refuge from the indolence of the streets.