HC Deb 23 June 1999 vol 333 cc375-6W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the implementation of the multi-agency strategy to deal with the monitoring and observation of paedophile activity. [87498]

Mr. Boateng

On 15 February 1999,Official Report, columns 601–13, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced the Government's intention to consider the case for legislation in relation to dangerous people with severe personality disorder. A consultation paper on this will be published shortly. He also said that we would look to the national steering group on dangerous offenders to help the various agencies working with sex offenders to plan together for the safe resettlement of offenders into the community. The Steering Group has met twice and I can report the following progress: an early warning system has been put in place to allow proper time to prepare for a dangerous person's re-entry into the community; and a support group made up of staff from the operational services will begin work in July to support the Steering Group in its work.