§ Mr. ConwayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the variations between bail hostels as to regimes, curfews and emphasis on enforcement of rules, including the distinction between open and closed hostels.
§ Mr. John PattenBail hostels are not divided into "open" or "closed". All bail hostels have 24-hour staff cover and operate a night-time curfew which may in individual cases be amended by bail conditions attached by the court. Hostel rules set out what conduct is acceptable and residents are required to comply with these rules as well as the conditions attached to their bail. Residents who fail to observe the curfew or comply with the rules are liable to be brought back to the courts to determine their disposal.
The regimes of individual hostels and their policy on enforcement of curfews and hostel rules are matters for local hostel management and such information is not held centrally.
12WNational standards for the management of approved hostels will be introduced next year to ensure that good and consistent practice is applied in all hostels throughout England and Wales.
§ Mr. ConwayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of locating bail hostels on the crime rate in the local area;
(2) what publicly available research evidence has been produced either by, or at the instigation of, his Department on the social and economic effects of bail hostels upon the communities where they are located.
§ Mr. John PattenNone.
§ Mr. ConwayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy on the extent to which bail hostel functions may be contracted out to private organisations in the future.
§ Mr. John PattenA number of private sector organisations are already involved in the provision of new bail hostels in co-operation with probation and voluntary sector managers. For example, Greater Manchester probation service contracted with a private sector developer to deliver the new bail hostel in Oldham and Cheshire probation service are working with a housing association in the development of hostels at Sandbach and Ellesmere Port. The extent to which other bail hostel functions may be contracted out to private and voluntary sector organisations in the future is being considered following responses to the consultation paper "Partnership in Dealing with Offenders in the Community" which was issued in 1990. We hope to make an announcement early in 1992.
§ Mr. ConwayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines he has issued to the police in co-operating with management of bail hostels.
§ Mr. John PattenNo specific guidelines have been issued centrally, but local managers liaise with station sergeants, community constables and other police officers on such matters as breach proceedings and security systems.