§ Andrew MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in the most recent year for which figures are available, gave no fixed abode as their address; how many convicted paedophiles were released form gaol within this period; and how many convicted paedophiles gave no fixed abode as their address within this period. [149520]
§ Paul GogginsThe Prison Service undertook a large-scale survey in March and April 2003 of sentenced prisoners nearing release. 29 per cent. said they did not have accommodation arranged on release, compared to 33 per cent. in a similar survey undertaken in November and December 2001. These surveys did not look separately at prisoners convicted of sex offences.
The latest Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) Annual Reports were published in September 2003. Copies are in the Library. They showed there were 21,413 registered sex offenders in the community. MAPPA provides a framework within which different agencies work together to manage the risks posed by these offenders, including those arising from the absence of stable accommodation. The resettlement of sex offenders posing a serious risk of harm to the public is jointly managed by the police and the National Probation Service within these arrangements.
Provisions in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 will formalise this multi-agency engagement by imposing a duty to co-operate with the MAPPA on a number of agencies, including local housing authorities and relevant registered social landlords.
Registered sex offenders are also subject to the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Act 1997. They are required to provide the police with their home 710W address within three days of their release from prison. Where an offender does not have a home address (which is his sole or main residence in the UK), he is required to provide the police with an address of premises in the UK that he regularly visits.