Secrecy over bail hostels stores up trouble – MP

Jan 8 2009 by Paul Loraine, The Journal

NORTH MPs last night condemned the decision not to consult the public on plans to build private bail hostels in their neighbourhoods.

The Government has signed a deal with a company to provide about 200 homes for bailed offenders, those released on home curfew with electronic tags and alleged offenders awaiting trial.

The company, ClearSprings, drew up a protocol for councils which states that neighbours will not be notified of intentions to site a hostel nearby until the plan has been approved.

The Ministry of Justice said the protocol had not been ratified and had been withdrawn last November. But a spokesman confirmed that only council officials, senior police officers and the probation service were to be consulted under its agreement with ClearSprings.

The exact locations of planned and current hostels are not publicly known, but details of how many there are in constituency areas have been released in a parliamentary answer.

Roberta Blackman-Woods, MP for Durham City – where there are two ClearSprings hostels – said the Government was inviting problems down the line by not consulting the public. "Our experience in Durham was that it was absolutely dreadful that they didn’t consult with local residents," she said.

"For the two existing hostels they consulted with the council, but not with the local population.

"Now we have had to set up a whole series of meetings in Durham to deal with some problems which came about as a result of the lack of consultation."

Dr Blackman-Woods said problems of noise and aspects of hostel management had been eradicated through sheer hard work. "They should have learned from our experiences in Durham," she added.

"What you realise is that people are actually very supportive of the people in the hostels and really want them to have a better life. By not consulting we’re underestimating the capacity people have to care."

Blyth Valley MP Ronnie Campbell also called for local people to be included in the discussion as to where the hostels were located.

"I don’t agree with cutting the public out, but the hostels have got to be built somewhere.

"I think people get worried about who is going to be living in those places.

"But what I would say is they have to live somewhere and we have had no problems at all with the one already in Blyth."

The leaked document revealed councils had no rights to block the hostels unless they breached housing and planning rules.

The protocol states: "ClearSprings is not required to consult with politicians or residents’ groups.

"The council has no legal responsibilities to support ClearSprings in the provision of accommodation."

"ClearSprings can assume acceptance if no response is forthcoming from probation or the local authority after five working days."

Justice Minister David Hanson said people in bail accommodation were "no different" from those released to live in their own homes.

"Those held in ClearSprings accommodation are deemed not to require close supervision or support. More than half of those held in this accommodation are on bail and are therefore innocent until proven guilty. Anyone accused of sexual offences, arson and those who pose a threat to staff, other residents or the public are not housed in these properties."

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said each hostel would hold up to five offenders.

He said: "ClearSprings prepared a protocol for use with local authorities setting out operational procedures in response to a request from one local authority.

"The protocol was not formally ratified with the Ministry of Justice and has been withdrawn pending discussions with the Local Government Association next month.

"A meeting has been arranged between the Ministry of Justice and the Local Government Association to determine any requirement."

Where they are

AREAS where there are bail hostels in the North East by parliamentary constituency.

:: Blyth Valley 1

:: Durham, City of 2

:: Jarrow 1

:: Middlesbrough 2

:: Newcastle upon Tyne, Central 1

:: Stockton, South 2

:: Sunderland, North 1

:: Sunderland, South 1

:: Tyne Bridge 2

:: Wansbeck 1