HC Deb 28 May 2004 vol 422 cc201-2W
Mrs. Helen Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation hostels in England and Wales provide a sex offender treatment programme. [172271]

Paul Goggins

Accredited sex offender treatment programmes are run by local Probation Areas, in specially adapted facilities.

Mrs. Helen Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what specialist training is provided for staff who work with sex offenders in hostels in England and Wales. [172272]

Paul Goggins

Probation staff who work with sex offenders attend the training courses approved by the Correctional Services Accreditation Panel. For hostel workers these focus particularly on techniques for motivating the offender to address their offence behaviour together with training in risk assessment and risk management.

Mrs. Helen Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give a guarantee that sex offenders will not be resettled in approved probation and bail hostels that are situated near to schools, play areas and swimming pools. [173176]

Paul Goggins

Approved premises play a vital role in the safe accommodation and supervision of offenders in the community, and must be managed as a national resource to achieve the best level of protection to the public and to victims. Every offender is assessed before placement and due account taken of the risks posed by proximity to schools and similar facilities.