§ Mrs. Helen ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to set up and operate probation hostels in England and Wales which will be exclusively used for convicted sex offenders. [172268]
§ Paul GogginsThere are currently no plans for any probation hostel in England and Wales to be used exclusively by convicted sex offenders.
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§ Mrs. Helen ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the sex offender treatment programme is available in probation hostels in England and Wales; and what assessment has been made of its effectiveness. [172270]
§ Paul GogginsResidents of probation hostels (approved premises) have access to the accredited sex offender treatment programme run by the local Probation Area. Treatment takes place off-site, usually in local probation offices, not in the Probation hostel.
The community based programmes are currently subject to an evaluation study conducted by the Universities of Liverpool and Leicester. It is too early for reconviction studies to be completed.
§ Mrs. Helen ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to construct and open new probation hostels in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [172273]
§ Paul GogginsCurrently there are plans to open five new approved premises in England and Wales. These will be operated under the Prospects programme. They will provide high quality support from custody to the community for non-violent offenders with a history of drug dependency. The programme represents an innovative way of working within the local community to reduce crime.