'Bail hostel is strict, but it should still move'

12:50pm Tuesday 24th July 2012 in Basildon By Gina Marden

SEX offenders and other dangerous crooks are living in “strict, prison-like” conditions at the controversial Felmores Bail Hostel, according to a councillor. Some of the inmates, who have been released from prison on licence, are forced to check in with supervisors every 45 minutes as part of their strict release conditions.

The manager of the hostel, in Felmores, Basildon , has also banned all sex offenders living at the site from having cameras or mobile phones which can take pictures.

Convicted paedophiles are also not allowed to stay in hostel rooms which overlook nearby Northlands Park, where children play.

The details have been revealed by Gavin Callaghan, Labour councillor for Pitsea North West, – who has campaigned with residents for the hostel to be removed.

He told the Echo about what life was like inside the hostel, after being invited on a tour by Essex Probation Service, which manages the site.

Mr Callaghan – who invited fellow councillors Aidan McGurran, Keith Bobbin and Ron Livesey to join him – said the hostel had a “strange atmosphere” and offered no luxuries to those staying there.

He said: “Some of the residents have to check in every 45 minutes, which would, for example, prevent them from getting to Southend and back if they had a victim who was from Southend.

“They are doing everything they can at the hostel to make sure the people in that facility are unlikely to reoffend.”

Mr Callaghan said the hostel – officially called an approved premises – has 25 bedrooms for those who have been released early from prison on licence.

Most of those staying there live at the hostel for 12 weeks while they are prepared for life back in the community.

Mr Callaghan said during that time inmates were constantly monitored by hostel staff, had to abide by curfews, had to eat meals together at 6.30pm, were helped to gain employment and must pay £25 a week towards their keep.

Despite the restrictions, Mr Callaghan said he still wanted to see the hostel moved, as the majority of criminals at the hostel were convicted sex offenders.

Residents of the nearby Felmores estate started a campaign for the hostel to be moved in April last year.

Comments(18)

R85 says...
12:57pm Tue 24 Jul 12

No matter where this goes, the residents will want it moved. Nobody is going to be happy about it and theres no desolate places in this tiny country! I guess maybe it should be as much in the middle of nowhere as possible!?

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richcarol says...
2:16pm Tue 24 Jul 12

How about cutting the sex offenders hands and legs and bollokks off without any kind of pain killers and with a rusty knife. sex offenders do not deserve to live. Now waiting for comments of do gooders, human rights idiots and supporters of sex offenders to shout me down.

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richcarol says...
2:17pm Tue 24 Jul 12

How about cutting the sex offenders hands and legs and bollokks off without any kind of pain killers and with a rusty knife. sex offenders do not deserve the right to live. Now waiting for comments of do gooders, human rights idiots and supporters of sex offenders to shout me down.

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Rebecca12 says...
2:22pm Tue 24 Jul 12

I think that if the Sex Offenders were given the punishment that they deserve in the first place then there would not be any issues as to the location of this hostel - there would not be one. I for one would not like for one second to raise a family anywhere near this place. A sex offence can be committed in less than 45 minutes, then what? back into prison for a short while, then out again into another ill placed hostel where the oppurtunity to re-offend is there, when all the while the poor victims of rape are serving a life sentance. Our system really is a joke when it comes to punishment.

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The Cater Wood Creeper says...
2:27pm Tue 24 Jul 12

move it to Craylands - it'll improve the quality of the neighbourhood....

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howironic says...
2:57pm Tue 24 Jul 12

Sex offenders and paedophiles have very serious mental health issues, of which I believe their shouldn't be any second chances. If you was sick enough to do this in the first place, nothing will change next time around... Load 'em up and dump them in the Artic, shouldn't cause too many problems there!

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Truth Will Prevail says...
5:35pm Tue 24 Jul 12

The Cater Wood Creeper wrote:
move it to Craylands - it'll improve the quality of the neighbourhood....
I hear there may be a bit of land going spare on Dale Farm soon...

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richcarol says...
6:27pm Tue 24 Jul 12

howironic wrote:
Sex offenders and paedophiles have very serious mental health issues, of which I believe their shouldn't be any second chances. If you was sick enough to do this in the first place, nothing will change next time around... Load 'em up and dump them in the Artic, shouldn't cause too many problems there!
AGREED 100 PERCENT...

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boom says...
9:44pm Tue 24 Jul 12

Where do they go after the 12 weeks ?! The nonces should be terminated, evil animals

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E-Types. says...
9:48pm Tue 24 Jul 12

Truth Will Prevail wrote:
The Cater Wood Creeper wrote:
move it to Craylands - it'll improve the quality of the neighbourhood....
I hear there may be a bit of land going spare on Dale Farm soon...
Perhaps you can move on there with them..im sure they wouldn't object...too much!

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Truth Will Prevail says...
5:38pm Wed 25 Jul 12

Why on earth would any sensible person want to live in a caravan on Dale Farm?

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The Cater Wood Creeper says...
6:21pm Wed 25 Jul 12

Truth Will Prevail wrote:
Why on earth would any sensible person want to live in a caravan on Dale Farm?
I've heard that the side of the road leading to it is the most desirable location these days....

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Truth Will Prevail says...
6:43pm Wed 25 Jul 12

The Cater Wood Creeper wrote:
Truth Will Prevail wrote: Why on earth would any sensible person want to live in a caravan on Dale Farm?
I've heard that the side of the road leading to it is the most desirable location these days....
Not for much longer!

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E-Types. says...
11:01pm Wed 25 Jul 12

Truth Will Prevail wrote:
The Cater Wood Creeper wrote:
Truth Will Prevail wrote: Why on earth would any sensible person want to live in a caravan on Dale Farm?
I've heard that the side of the road leading to it is the most desirable location these days....
Not for much longer!
Please hold you breath till its cleared!

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E-Types. says...
11:03pm Wed 25 Jul 12

Truth Will Prevail wrote:
Why on earth would any sensible person want to live in a caravan on Dale Farm?
i meant you with the hostel inhabitants...im sure they wont object to much if you keep your disgusting personality to yourself.

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Truth Will Prevail says...
12:41am Thu 26 Jul 12

You are such a lovely chap ET.

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E-Types. says...
2:24am Fri 27 Jul 12

Truth Will Prevail wrote:
You are such a lovely chap ET.
Im fully sure no one has ever said that about you...

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E-Types. says...
4:26pm Fri 27 Jul 12

Wow the Hadleigh Stoner hasn't had this thread closed by his friends in the Echo because he has been challenged!

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