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'Dangerous' bail hostel opens SOMEWHERE in Ashford - but where? Let us know below...
VIOLENT offenders could be among the criminals living in a new 'bail hostel' somewhere in Ashford - but the government is refusing to reveal its exact location, writes Adam Courtney.
The two-bedroom hostel is being run by ClearSprings, which has been warned it could lose its government contract to run the houses after an inmate was murdered by another offender at one of its properties in Teeside, and is being used to accommodate people on bail or on a home detention curfew, which could include offenders who have:
Committed violent crimes
Been banned from working with children
Failed to comply with detention curfews under another sentence
Been charged or convicted for drug related crimes
Despite requests from both the Herald & News and Spelthorne MP David Wilshire, the Ministry of Justice refused to disclose the location, with a spokesman saying he was "unable to do so".
Mr Wilshire says he was told offenders are only visited by support staff once a week after their first three weeks in residence.
He said: "I was deeply concerned about this bail hostel when I first heard about it. Following the news that an inmate of a hostel run by ClearSprings has been murdered by another inmate (who had a history of violence), I am seriously alarmed.
"My constituents need to know whether violent people and those banned from working with children are living near them. The Justice Secretary must tell us what is going on and assure us that such people will not be housed in Ashford.
"Quite rightly the ministry has threatened to terminate the ClearSpring contract unless swift improvements are made. I will now be asking the government urgent questions about the hostel in Ashford. It is unacceptable that my constituents may be at risk because of the government's incompetent approach to criminal justice."
The Ministry of Justice spokesman insisted the community was not at risk ,saying: "Public protection is our priority. That's why anyone deemed to pose a threat to the local community is not accepted into the Bail Accommodation and Support Service (BASS) and will continue to be held on remand or remain in custody.
"We take the concerns of local communities seriously. This is why Clear Springs Management consults with local authorities, the police and the probation service when identifying locations for properties. We welcome this joint working agreement between ClearSprings and local authorities which sets out ways of working that are now firmly in place."
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