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| Paedophile hostel ban criticised | Paedophile hostel ban criticised |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A ban on paedophiles being housed in bail hostels near schools undermined public protection, a report has said. | A ban on paedophiles being housed in bail hostels near schools undermined public protection, a report has said. |
| In 2006, the then Home Secretary John Reid introduced the ban - affecting 14 of the 100 hostels in England and Wales - after a News of the World campaign. | In 2006, the then Home Secretary John Reid introduced the ban - affecting 14 of the 100 hostels in England and Wales - after a News of the World campaign. |
| But the inspectorates of constabulary, probation and prisons say it led to a shortage of places for sex offenders. | But the inspectorates of constabulary, probation and prisons say it led to a shortage of places for sex offenders. |
| This resulted in some dangerous offenders being inadequately monitored in the community, their report adds. | This resulted in some dangerous offenders being inadequately monitored in the community, their report adds. |
| Shortfall 'exacerbated' | Shortfall 'exacerbated' |
| The inspectors said that plans to create new hostels, to meet the need of the criminal justice system, had already proved impossible because of local opposition. | The inspectors said that plans to create new hostels, to meet the need of the criminal justice system, had already proved impossible because of local opposition. |
| But they said the Home Office ban had "exacerbated" a shortfall in hostel places for sex offenders and "reduced the capacity" of the probation service to contribute to public protection. | But they said the Home Office ban had "exacerbated" a shortfall in hostel places for sex offenders and "reduced the capacity" of the probation service to contribute to public protection. |
| Inspectors said that in some cases potentially dangerous offenders had been released from prison without proper supervision. | Inspectors said that in some cases potentially dangerous offenders had been released from prison without proper supervision. |
| "The decision to admit someone to a hostel has always been based on an assessment of risk of harm that included the location of the hostel," said the report. | "The decision to admit someone to a hostel has always been based on an assessment of risk of harm that included the location of the hostel," said the report. |
| "However, it is the individual who is risk assessed and not the premises. | "However, it is the individual who is risk assessed and not the premises. |
| "Given that most hostels have been private homes, it is inevitable that many are located in residential areas and that some are close to schools or nurseries." | "Given that most hostels have been private homes, it is inevitable that many are located in residential areas and that some are close to schools or nurseries." |
| Managers 'distracted' | Managers 'distracted' |
| The report said at least one hostel had never housed a sex offender because it was "literally next door" to a nursery. Other hostel teams had worked closely with local schools who had disapproved of the ban. | The report said at least one hostel had never housed a sex offender because it was "literally next door" to a nursery. Other hostel teams had worked closely with local schools who had disapproved of the ban. |
| "Prohibiting 14 of the 100 available hostels from accommodating those convicted of sexual offences against children under the age of 16 had had a profound effect on the ability of offender managers in some areas to find appropriate hostel accommodation for these offenders," said the report. | "Prohibiting 14 of the 100 available hostels from accommodating those convicted of sexual offences against children under the age of 16 had had a profound effect on the ability of offender managers in some areas to find appropriate hostel accommodation for these offenders," said the report. |
| "Assessment of the ability of a hostel to contain and manage risk of harm should always be paramount and we saw nothing in this inspection to suggest that this was not the case. | "Assessment of the ability of a hostel to contain and manage risk of harm should always be paramount and we saw nothing in this inspection to suggest that this was not the case. |
| "Offender managers continued to be distracted by this issue," it continued. "[Public protection teams] were often unwilling to accept referrals of potentially dangerous offenders from out of the area. | |
| "We were told about specific cases where potentially dangerous offender had been released to live with inadequate supervision, due to restrictions on admissions in a local hostel and refusal of other area's [teams] or hostels to accept them." | "We were told about specific cases where potentially dangerous offender had been released to live with inadequate supervision, due to restrictions on admissions in a local hostel and refusal of other area's [teams] or hostels to accept them." |