‘Bail hostel capital’ : Derry & Strabane rep seeks meeting amid concerns from residents

At November’s Full Council Meeting, independent councillor Raymond Barr said constituents had “growing concerns” over the number of premises being used as approved accommodation for individuals released on bail.

Councillor Barr said that neither planning permission nor licences were needed to operate approved accommodation, and there was currently no control over their number or location throughout the district.

He added: “More importantly [there is] no consultation with local residents so you may not be aware if someone on bail for a serious offence is living the next door, and these individuals are usually parachuted in… from Belfast or other towns outside this district.

“It’s been said that state-funded temporary accommodation is now the most lucrative form of residential tenancy.

“It’s also been said that the city has become the bail hostel capital of the North, with a large percentage of the entire temporary accommodation budget been spent on this district.”

Councillor Barr proposed that council invite the Housing Executive and Probation Board for Northern Ireland to address members’ questions and concerns.

“Those going through the justice system have a right to a roof over their head and to be treated with dignity,” Councillor Barr said. “But our communities also have a right to know who is living among them and if they or their children are being exposed to danger.”

Independent councillor Paul Gallagher said that, as someone whose work involves the rehabilitation of young people, he was cautious that a lack of approved accommodation could lead to “keeping people in jail that are not supposed to be there”.

Councillor Gallagher said: “They’re approved for a reason; to minimise the risk to the public, to themselves, and maybe to potential victims.

“If a court imposes someone can’t be within a 30 miles of, for example, Strabane Town they may not have the surroundings or the support, and if we were taking restrictions on not having bail addresses then we would have an overpopulated prison system full of young people."

“So while I understand the proposers saying ‘let’s enquire about policies and procedures’, we shouldn’t undermine the facilities that are there.”

Councillor Barr said he agreed with many of councillor Gallagher’s points, but said a meeting was necessary to discuss topics like risk assessment, monitoring, and high concentration.

He concluded: “The only way we’re going to get answers that will satisfy ourselves and the public is to get these statutory agencies here and let them enlighten us around procedures and processes”.

Andrew Balfour,

Local Democracy Reporter.