Bail hostel looks set to stay after "toothless" review (From Southend Standard)

Bail hostel looks set to stay after "toothless" review

2:10pm Thursday 21st March 2013 in Echo News By Gina Marden

A BAIL hostel housing dangerous sex offenders looks set to stay put after a committee set up to look at the issue came up with no firm plans for its future.
 

Basildon Council’s review into the Felmores bail hostel in Pitsea was launched following public outcry that convicted paedophiles and sex offenders were living in the middle of a housing estate and close to a school, playground and nursery.
 

However, the review, led by Langdon Hills councillor Stephen Hillier, has not come up with any firm plans to move the hostel, while complaints have been made that no residents were asked to provide their opinions on the hostel.
 

Leanne Clark, 41, formerly of Delvins, Pitsea, led the campaign to move the hostel.
 

She said: “I think they did not want me to give evidence because they know I would have kicked off. Unfortunately I think this hostel will be here in years to come and there will be more victims – maybe not next year or the year after – but there will be and next time a child might get seriously hurt or worse.”
 

The review came up with three recommendations, these were:
*police and probation continuing to “engage with the community”, encouraging them to report any incidents involving inmates.
*asking the Basildon Community Safety Partnership to consider making the Nortlands Park area a Community Safety Action Zone - which is a multi-agency three-month crime blitz which targets problem areas.
*Basildon Council working with the Ministry of Justice, Essex County Council and the Homes and Communities Agency - who own land in the borough - to see if they can suggest an alternative location.

In his report chairman Stephen Hillier said: “Although this was a light touch review rather than a full task and finish review, it realted to a complex and emotive subject area and I am confident that it has come out with some tangible recommendations to provide a platform for the way forward on this matter.”