Victory against the Bail Hostel in Vange
The Labour Government has backed down over its plans to build a bail hostel in Vange. I am pleased with this and is glad the Government has seen sense. However the plan was wrong in the first place and should never have approved by the government. They should have built the prisons, when warned about the overcrowding crisis several years ago. There should be no mistake the reasons these bail hostels are being build is because of the overcrowding crisis. If a large number of prisoners are released from jail early, compared with a steady flow if there was enough prison places, there is a larger demand to re-home these offenders, who should still be in jail. This is why the Labour Government has started buying residential property fro this purpose. They are still committed to placing at least one in Basildon, and I along with the other Local Conservatives intend to fight this.
Media
News
John Baron MP challenges plans to house prisoners across Basildon District
PRESS RELEASE:
John Baron MP challenges plans to house prisoners across Basildon District. MP says Government trying to solve prison overcrowding by stealth. Today, John Baron MP expressed his concern at Government plans to house criminals released early from prison in family homes in residential areas.
The Government has tasked the organisation ClearSprings to purchase a property in Basildon for this purpose. It is thought other properties are being sought across Basildon District, but the exact number and location is not yet clear. John said: "These offenders ought to be in jail, not living alongside residents in the community. It's totally unacceptable to try and reduce prison overcrowding> by stealth in this way." "The Government is trying to sneak these prisoners into our communities on the quiet. Basildon Council is absolutely right to insist planning permission be sought, so that local residents can be consulted. Local people should have a right to know if they are living next to open jails." "I also question the level of support these offenders are going to receive> once they are released into the community. These people need help to re-habilitate and make a fresh start, but this appears not to have been taken into account." "I am raising this issue in Parliament and pressing the Government to reverse its back-handed policy which takes no account of local residents' views."
Notes:
John has written to Jack Straw at the Ministry of Justice outlining his opposition to the plans and has asked a number of specific questions.
Basildon Council has insisted that planning permission be sought so that local residents can be consulted and in order to check that the site is appropriately located
Last summer - shortly before launching a plan to release 25,000 prisoners early - the government quietly decided to place crime suspects and newly-released prisoners in privately-run houses and flats across the country. The Prison Service has admitted that this policy was introduced solely to ease the overcrowding crisis. Many of these bail hostels are dropped into quiet residential areas. Local communities aren't even consulted. Residents wake up to discover that the house next door has been transformed into an open prison for burglars and muggers.
In the first five and a half months of the scheme, nearly 500 criminals and suspects have been diverted into this housing. This number is set to rise, as around 80 other locations have already been identified. To add insult to injury, the taxpayer is forced to foot the bill - nearly £2.5 million so far, or £6,400 per inmate. This equates to an average nightly bill of £250. If these people had been held in jail, the cost would be only £100. The Ministry of Justice claim that they consult comprehensively. That's rubbish - they tell only the "law enforcement agencies". They say the policy will "reduce the loss of liberty and consequent damaging impacts on family life." But offenders sentenced to prison are meant to lose their liberty. And what about the impact on family life of those who must live next to the hostels?
We need a prisons system with adequate capacity which rehabilitates offenders - getting them off drugs, training them and preparing them for the world of work. Using taxpayers' money to purchase residential properties where prisoners are left alone unsupervised and support services are miles away is a stupid, short sighted policy. It might save Ministers' red faces over their failure to provide enough prison places, but it does nothing to help offenders, and it is an insult to the communities affected.
Letter to Jack Straw
5th March 2008 Ref: JB/TD
[Dear Jack]
Proposal for ClearSprings accommodation in Basildon District
I am writing to outline my opposition to the above proposal, which as I understand it would see accommodation provided in Basildon District for persons on bail or offenders released early from prison. My opposition stems from three main concerns.
Firstly, would you confirm that these proposals are a direct consequence of prison overcrowding as the Prison Service has inferred? I believe it sends the wrong message to the public if those who ought to be detained are released not for reasons of justice, but rather because of long-term failures in the management of prison estates. As well as this being wrong in principle, I am also concerned that residents will feel threatened by the presence of offenders in family-style housing in residential areas.
Secondly, I am deeply concerned about the lack of local consultation on the proposal. Although Basildon Council will now address the question of planning permission for the change of use, and this will provide opportunity for public debate, this is entirely fortuitous. Local residents ought to have been made aware of these plans from the beginning and given an opportunity to express their views.
Finally, I believe this project gives rise to concerns for offenders themselves, for it would appear that support for service users are minimal at best. I would be grateful if you would set out for me exactly what rehabilitation, monitoring and support you envisage being provided.
This issue is bound to generate considerable public interest. Would you please now reverse your decision to house offenders in Basildon District, and accordingly ensure that no more properties are purchased for this purpose.
Yours sincerely,
John Baron MP
Rt. Hon. Jack Straw MP
Secretary of State for Justice
Ministry of Justice
Selborne House, 54 Victoria Street
London SW1E 6QW