§ Sir Paul BeresfordTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for specialised treatment centres for paedophiles to replace the Wolvercote Centre. [124127]
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§ Paul Goggins[holding answer 7 July 2003]: As part of the development of a wider accommodation strategy for offenders, the National Probation Directorate is considering how treatment of the sort which was provided by the Wolvercote Clinic may best be provided in dedicated residential facilities. As yet we have no confirmed plans as to the number or the location of such facilities.
Resources are currently being concentrated on delivering accredited, non-residential treatment programmes for sexual offenders in the community and for those in prison.
§ Sir Paul BeresfordTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many treatment centres are available to treat paedophiles; and how many paedophile patients these centres can treat at any one time. [124128]
§ Paul Goggins[holding answer 7 July 2003]: There are no residential facilities funded by the Home Office which are dedicated to the treatment of adults convicted of sexual offences against children. However, each of the 42 Probation Areas in England and Wales delivers accredited sex offender treatment programmes in the community. In addition to the 2,000 places on these programmes provided this year, 920 places are provided on accredited sex offender programmes which run in prisons.
In developing an accommodation strategy for offenders generally, the National Probation Directorate is considering what sort of residential facilities for treating sexual offenders in the community may be required.