§ 27. Mrs. LawrenceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government are taking to ensure that children and other members of the public are protected from sex offenders. [99704]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe Government are committed to protecting children and others from sex offenders. The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 contained strong additional safeguards in the new sex offender orders and extended supervision provisions. This session we are bringing forward proposals for a scheme to prevent unsuitable people, including sex offenders, from working with children as part of the Crime and Public Protection Bill.
§ Mr. ShepherdTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out his Department's policy on the notification of hon. Members of the release of sex offenders into bail hostels within their constituency; and in respect of that policy if he will list(a) the number of category A sex offenders placed in bail hostels within England and Wales in each of the past two years, (b) the notification given to his Department, in each case, prior to the offender being placed in a bail hostel and the notification given, in each case, to the hon. Member for the constituency where the hostel was located and (c) on how many occasions the notification given to hon. Members was less than four days. [101359]
§ Mr. BoatengOver the last two years, two sex offenders who were category A prisoners were released to hostel accommodation. Home Office Ministers were notified of the release arrangements two weeks before the first prisoner's release and five weeks prior to the second prisoner's release. The hon. Members for the relevant constituencies received notification seven days and 34 days respectively prior to their release.
In addition to the arrangements for category A prisoners, the Department has, since 1 April 1999, operated an Early Warning system within the prison and probation services in relation to the release of offenders in respect of whom there is a strong risk that a serious violent or sexual offence will be committed after release and where there are victim issues; difficulties with the supervision plan or accommodation; and where it is likely that the case will be subject to media attention. Prisons and probation services are asked to give the Department two months notice of the release of an offender who meets these criteria.
Thirty such cases have been notified to the hon. Members concerned. The information was passed on as soon as we knew what the accommodation arrangements were going to be. I did this in order to reassure hon. Members of the safeguards which have been put in place. This is particularly important if there is likely to be a hostile media reaction so that hon. Members are able to respond if necessary. Many hon. Members have been very supportive to the local agencies responsible for managing dangerous offenders in the community, for which I am grateful.
I am currently reviewing the arrangements for handling these cases. As part of that review, I shall be writing to hon. Members individually to ascertain which of them wishes to continue to receive information, in confidence, about the release of dangerous offenders and offering further briefing to anyone who would find it useful. We 378W are committed to doing all we can to ensure public safety, especially where dangerous offenders are concerned and we will continue to work with hon. Members to bring this about.