Shocked Biden breaks down as Obama awards him the Medal of Freedom at surprise ceremony and he pays tribute to his late son
Never-before-heard Bernie Madoff tapes reveal how remorseless Manhattan swindler blames the banks and his wealthy investors for his catastrophic Ponzi scheme
Obama ends 'wet foot, dry foot' policy for Cubans: Refugees who arrive in US without visas will no longer be granted automatic residency
Blowing hot and cold: East Coast basks in record-breaking warm temperatures while West Coast battles freezing blizzards and torrential rain
Marijuana DOES cause schizophrenia and triggers heart attacks, experts say in landmark study that slams most of the drug's medical benefits as 'unproven'
Hero passer-by shoots dead gunman after the suspect shot and injured an Arizona cop in 'ambush' at the scene of a car crash
Bo knows now: Superstar Bo Jackson says he never would have played football if he had known about the long-term effects of head injuries
US troops enter Poland for the first time since the fall of the Soviet Union as angry Russia condemns the move as a threat to its national security
From swearing to staying up late: Here are the 10 surprising personality traits of highly intelligent people
Use toner INSTEAD of face wash and 'occasionally skip sunscreen': Esthetician to Miranda Kerr and Irina Shayk dishes on their surprisingly simple (and cheap) beauty secrets
Robin 'punched' our six-year-old son: Thicke's ex claims child is 'scared' of his 'violent' father in bitter custody row - as singer says she's upset because she wasn't invited to his father's funeral
Porn director DENIES choking and stomping on star as she screamed 'cut' - and vows to air the footage from shoot to clear himself
JetBlue becomes first airline to offer FREE in-flight Wi-Fi for all passengers on every flight (and it's strong enough to stream films)
Listen to the astonishing sound of baboons making five vowel-like sounds just like humans: Discovery could mean the origin of speech is much older than first thought
How a Swiss gentleman servant led a double life as a calculating serial killer who roamed the streets of London killing prostitutes fifty years before Jack the Ripper terrorised the city
Blonde high school senior, 18, raises $10,000 on GoFundMe page she set up to pay for college after her parents 'cut her off because she has black boyfriend'
What do your pajamas say about you? Etiquette expert William Hanson reveals all (and it may be time to ditch that onesie!)
Korean restaurant's menu goes viral for labelling its least spicy food 'white'... but do YOU think it's racist?
'I know he did not kill Nicole and Ron': OJ Simpson's sister defends the former football player and says she will go to her death bed defending his innocence
Kings of the jungle, butchered so their paws and HEADS can be used in black magic rituals: Three lions are just the latest to be poisoned and decapitated for cruel trade
Can YOU tell which of these meals contain the most calories? The answer is not as obvious as you think (and it may change your attitude to dieting for good)
Why a Western diet makes overeating feel orgasmic: Fatty and sweet foods 'alter body's chemicals like cannabis - giving you the munchies'
'Are these flowers? Sunflower seeds? I don't like where this is going': Hilarious video sees horrified children trying health foods from the last 100 years
Living on the edge: Rock singer's $700,000 Hollywood Hills home is in danger of collapsing after historic rain ripped out part of its foundations

200 bail hostels to open across Britain - with NO public consultation

By James Slack for the Daily Mail
Updated: 21:41 EST, 6 January 2009

View
comments

Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Herbert described the plan as 'covert'

A secret leaked memo last night revealed 200 bail hostels for dangerous criminals are being opened in residential streets across Britain without any consultation with the public.

The Government has signed a multi-million pound contact with a private firm to house a mixture of convicts on early release and suspects who are awaiting trial in a desperate bid to ease prison overcrowding.

They are being placed in homes in residential streets, rather than being held in jail. They are free to come and go, and have only limited supervision.

The existence of the bail hostels caused a storm when it was first revealed by the Mail last year.

Now leaked papers have revealed the full detail of how they are being forced on local communities without any warning.

Shockingly, neighbours are only informed about the plans by letter once the hostels have been given the go-ahead.

Even local councillors, who are supposed to stand up for the public, are being kept in the dark. Councils have no opportunity to protest about the location of the hostels, which are run by the private company ClearSprings.

A copy of a local authority protocol arrangement drawn up by the firm says: 'ClearSprings is not required to consult with politicians or residents’ groups’.

The only groups consulted are police, and high-ranking council officials.

Revealing how the plans can be quickly railroaded through, the protocol continues: 'ClearSprings can assume acceptance if no response is forthcoming from Probation or the Local Authority after 5 working days’.

It also suggests the firm is keen to keep a low media profile, and answer any questions from Press trying to uncover the truth carefully.

The protocol says: ‘It is agreed that any enquiries with the media will be treated caution. Where at all possible, discussions will be held between both parties prior to any statement being made by the local authority. It should be noted that ClearSprings have a policy to refer all media enquiries to the press officer for the Ministry of Justice’.

Justice Minister David Hanson says the safety of the public will remain paramount

The Tories, who obtained the protocol, said the Ministry of Justice – which handed the contract to ClearSprings – was guilty of devising a plan to keep the public in the dark.

Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Herbert said:'The Government has failed to provide enough prison capacity so they’ve devised a covert plan to set up what amount to mini open jails in residential areas while avoiding any consultation with the public.

'Placing offenders in residential properties causes immense aggravation when neighbours suddenly discover what’s going on, only to be told that they are powerless to stop it and the local community didn’t even need to be consulted.

'Nor is this a sensible way to assist homeless offenders, who receive minimal supervision and support in temporary converted accommodation, when what they need is a long-term programme of resettlement.

'In place of these clumsy emergency measures we need a proper programme of prison reform to focus on rehabilitation and ensure that public safety and confidence is maintained.'

Those eligible to stay in the 200 hostels, which have 600 beds and are currently being opened across England and Wales, include burglars and muggers.

They are not confined to the properties, but normally have to observe a curfew.

The initiative centres on reducing the use of remand. Suspects are jailed if the courts are not happy that they have a stable home address and may abscond.

The same reason also prevents a convicted criminal from being freed with an electronic tag up to four and a half months early, under the Home Detention Curfew scheme.

So Ministers are instead putting them up in the private "bail" houses across the country.

ClearSprings has been paid at least £2,391,470 by taxpayers for the contract.

The protocol reveals ‘clients’ can be housed for up to 9 months, and receive housing benefit while in the property.

The protocol confirms that the properties are not secured, or manned. It states: ‘The accommodation is not staffed; the clients are self-governing with floating Support Officers’.

Neither probation officers nor the local authority can veto ClearSprings’ choice of property, though police have to agree.

Local councils have raised concerns about lack of proper consultation.

Hazel Harding, spokesman for the Local Government Association, said: ‘It is outrageous that some councils are being bypassed and not consulted over the location of new bail hostels in the local area by a private company.

'This is a direct breach of the government contract with ClearSprings. It’s essential that councils are involved from day one in helping to decide where to locate any proposed bail hostel.’

Justice Minister David Hanson said: 'The accommodation allows courts to bail defendants who are currently unable to provide a bail address or who could not be bailed without support.

'Residents in bail accommodation are no different to those who have been legitimately released into the community to return to their own homes. Those held in ClearSprings accommodation are deemed not to require close supervision or support.

'More than half of those held in this accommodation are on bail and are therefore innocent until proven guilty.

'Those on Home Detention Curfew are assessed as low risk before entry, monitored during their stay, and are liable to recall to prison if they break the terms of their release.

'The security of the public remains paramount. Anyone who poses a risk to the public will continue to be held on remand. Anyone accused of sexual offences, arson and those who pose a threat to staff, other residents or the public are not housed in these properties.

'The Government remains committed to ensuring that ClearSprings are reminded of the importance of fulfilling their obligations to consult with local authorities, the police and probation.'