§ Mrs. Helen ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used to decide which sex offenders from outside the city are sent to Peterborough Bail Hostel. [153237]
§ Paul Goggins[holding answer 6 February 2004]: The decision to admit anyone to an approved probation and bail hostel is only taken after a careful consideration of risk. Peterborough Approved Premises is part of a national estate of 100 premises managed by the National Probation Service of England and Wales. From time to time offenders are released from custody who cannot return to their home area for a variety of reasons, including victim issues. As part of a national service, Peterborough Approved Premises, having taken into careful consideration all the relevant risks, will accept "out of area" referrals.
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§ Mrs. Helen ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are made to protect vulnerable young residents of bail hostels from residents who are known sex offenders. [153238]
§ Paul Goggins[holding answer 6 February 2004]: There are 100 approved premises (approved probation and bail hostels) managed by the National Probation Service for England and Wales. As a general rule, none of these approved premises admit anyone under the age of 18 years as a resident. In exceptional circumstances they may do so for short periods, but only if there were no Schedule I offenders at the approved premises at that time. The decision to admit anyone to an approved probation and bail hostel is only taken after a careful consideration of risk. This includes the risk to other residents.
§ Mrs. Helen ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what records are kept of the number of sex offenders resident in bail hostels; [153239]
(2) how many sex offenders there were in Peterborough Bail Hostel in the last month for which figures are available; what percentage of the hostel's inmates this represented; and what the average percentage of sex offenders in bail hostels in England was in the last month for which figures are available. [153240]
§ Paul Goggins[holding answer 6 February 2004]: No published data is available on the numbers of offenders convicted or charged with sexual offences who are resident in approved premises.