Hostel reception to bail news

8:35am Tuesday 6th May 2008

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TWO private bail hostels for offenders have been opened in Lewisham borough without residents being informed.

Lewisham Council says it cannot reveal the location of the accommodation, as the property management company running them, ClearSprings, is contracted by the Ministry of Justice.

But a spokesman for the Ministry of Justice also refused to reveal the addresses of the hostels, which are for low-risk offenders either on bail or early release.

A list of boroughs where the accommodation is located, which includes Lewisham, was revealed by a Channel 4 programme on April 30.

Greenwich Pensioners' Forum chairman Harbajan Singh says the fact residents had not been told about the hostels would cause worry.

He said: "A thing like this is open to all kinds of abuses.

"I'm not a scaremongerer but the issue is people should be made aware what kind of people are there.

"People need to feel they are safe and they need to be told."

Stephen Buckley is chairman of the 650-member Hatcham Park Tenants' and Residents' Association in New Cross.

He said: "The question people would ask is are they going out and committing crimes?

"My feeling is they've got to be put somewhere. But I don't think it should be secretive.

"If I was to find out there was a bail hostel a couple of doors up from me and I hadn't been told, I'd be much more worried about it."

Even Mayor of Lewisham Sir Steve Bullock says he was unaware of the bail hostels' existence until the announcement.

Sir Steve said: "All I can say is now I've been made aware of this it's clearly something I'm concerned about and I'm going to seek further information."

The Ministry of Justice says police, probation and local authorities are consulted at the very beginning of the process.

But a council spokesman said: "We were not meaningfully consulted about setting up these hostels.

"Council officers were told ClearSprings would set up the hostels but council officers failed to brief the mayor of this development and have apologised to him for this mistake."

The Ministry of Justice says around 400 people are expected to be accommodated in 150 properties nationally.

Addresses will be shared, rented homes for the residents' period of bail or home detention curfew and they will have regular contact with support officers.

Deptford Churches Centre team leader Ingrid Chetram says there is a problem with people released from prison who have nowhere to go.

The centre, in Speedwell Street, Deptford, provides services for former offenders.

She said: "Bail hostels are a good thing if they're well managed and overseen properly.

"Offenders need to be reintegrated back into society."

However, Ms Chetram says neighbours should be consulted.

She said: "Sometimes it's the fear of the unknown.

"Once people are informed, they can make an educated choice about what they think."

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said defendants who posed a risk to the public would continue to be held on remand.

He said: "ClearSprings is under a contractual obligation to consult in areas where they are to open bail accommodation.

"Any reports it has failed to do so will be investigated.

"Defendants are innocent until proven guilty."