howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
6 February 2011
12:0491652a report out today estimates that there are 1600 individuals in bail hostels that are considered a high risk to the public.
offenders can come and go as they like but have a curfew at night. the compilers of the report checked out 23 hostels housing 455 and found that 374 were high risk.
a few examples:
a 27 year old with connections to trainign camps in afghanistan.
a 46 year old with 4 convictions for serious sexual assault.
a 47 year old with a history of violent crimes targeting the elderly since he was in his teens.
a 42 year old with a long record of indecent assaults(including a boy under 13).
do we still have a bail hostel in dover, there used to be one on the london road.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
6 February 2011
12:0791655There is a halfway house on Harold St.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Terry Nunn
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,316
6 February 2011
13:2891663Yes, it's still there Howard, just down from me and next door to where a well known forumite used to live.
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
6 February 2011
13:3291665it seems we have two and we have no idea what the occupants have been convicted of.
i find it all a matter of great concern bearing in mind that the report went on at length about how many in the hostels were using the internet on site to carry on their grooming activities.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
6 February 2011
13:5791669I have visited these hostels several times .Most people donot know where they are .They do come under supervision.Why should we be made aware of their
convictions ?
One guy had to walk to Folkestone for work every day .Some of them are really trying to reform .Judge not lest ye also be judged ..
Terry Nunn- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,316
6 February 2011
14:0791671I must admit that recently there has been no problem at all, they sometimes sit outside exchanging pleasantries with passers by. And no, I am not being sarcastic.
About 6 years ago however there were reports of one them hanging about near the playgroup and primary schools.
Otherwise though, as I said, no problem.
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
6 February 2011
15:1391676Sue - I can only agree. We only need to know what we need to know and no more. I am 100% behind the sentiment about judgement!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
6 February 2011
16:3991681i doubt that parents of young children will agree with the "live and let live" sentiments.
we do not know who these people are and what they have done, maybe the ones we have in dover are just minor offenders, i hope so anyway.
with regard to supervision there are proposals that the budget for this service is cut. the report clearly states that there are large numbers of dangerous people being housed together in residential areas.
6 February 2011
16:4091682It isn't live and let live, it's being reasonable. If someone is a danger or threat then of course we need to be aware - if they have done the time for the crime and are not posing a threat, why need to know?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
6 February 2011
16:5491685the report clearly states that they do carry a serious threat.
hostels have internet access and some sex offenders are using chatrooms to groom their next victim.
6 February 2011
17:0691686These are seperate issues. If ex-offenders are repeat offending they should be either returned to prison if on license or arrested. If someone is in a bail hostel we do not need to assume they are a threat. If they are a threat they need further and increased monitoring which a bail hostel is inapproriate to deliver.
Guest 662- Registered: 18 Mar 2008
- Posts: 325
6 February 2011
17:1491687If the report is showing that these people are a threat then I believe there is a serious flaw in our judicial system as they shouldnt be there at all but locked up.
Which would mean we would not be debating whether or not we need to know their offences. So the question is are the people in Dover a threat or not. If they are then I think we have a right to know, my thirteen year old daughter walks down Harold Street regularly, I will be asking her to change her route.
Where my children are considered I prefer not to take the risk thank you very much
6 February 2011
17:2291689I am with you 100%.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
6 February 2011
17:5091693Sue, in reference to post 5. "One guy had to walk to Folkestone for work every day."
Was that part of a punishment?
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
6 February 2011
18:3291698Are they still called bail-hostels ?
We have a house just up the road from me that houses these ex-offenders.
Sue and I and some other Councillors went to their relaunch after an extension, very impressed with the facilities there and the guys don't seem to be a threat to society, so to me they're not a threat; having said that, I have no idea what offences they committed.
Roger
6 February 2011
18:5291703In many cases, the past is the past and should be left there. It is only when there is a clear and present danger that the sand shifts a bit.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
6 February 2011
19:0291706Alexander,
I recall he had no way of getting there on time .He earnt very little so could not always use public transport .At least he showed willing .One of the hostels I visited a young guy made chutney ,The rooms were sparse of furniture and very few personal belongings ,
They were so pleased to see me as they had never had a visit from a councillor before I did say im not just in it for grand photos .I shall visit them again ..
The one Roger referred to shall not say where it is more modern .
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
6 February 2011
19:1691708there is an ex offenders place at archclffe fort,emmaus or somthing simler.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
6 February 2011
19:2391711brian
my understanding is that it is for homeless men, not necessarily offenders.
an excellent charity, people work for their keep thus getting back any self respect lost.
roger
they are sometimes known as probation hostels.
bern
they cannot go back to prison as they have served their sentence, the authorities still consider them a threat to society.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
6 February 2011
19:2791713howard,there is one or two females?living there as well.
