BAIL HOSTEL WEAPONS!

Probation officers are refusing to use metal scanners to help detect knives and guns at bail hostels in case they become targets for violence!

The scandal was exposed by a concerned probation service hostel manager in the North East in a leaked e-mail sent to MAPPA.

In the memo a senior probation officer reveals staff at a hostel in Sunderland have been instructed not to use hi-tech body scanners to detect weapons because of the fear of assault.

This means that violent criminals out on parole could be left unchecked to roam the streets armed with weapons!

The manager at the Pennywell Hostel in Sunderland demands to know if other probation hostels across the UK are using the scanners provided by the Home Office.

A prison officer at a Category B jail revealed that prisoners on parole regularly obtain weapons.

The warder said: 'It's very worrying that probation officers are not refusing to use scanners to carry out searches of prisoners who are out on licence.

'It's frighteningly easy for dangerous criminals to get their hands on lethal weapons and smuggle them in to these hostels.'

Tory Shadow Justice Minister Nick Herbert said the failure to use body scanners at probation hostels is putting the public at risk.

He said: 'It's ludicrous that the Probation Service is forking out on body scanners but staff are refusing to use them.

'Not only is it a huge waste of taxpayers' money it also creates an unnecessary risk to public safety.

'This extraordinary decision serves only to undermine the fight against knife crime.'

In a statement David Gardiner, director of operations for the Northumbria Probation Service, said: 'Protecting the public is our first responsibility. We also have a responsibility to protect our staff from harm.

'If there are any concerns that an offender may be carrying a knife we would immediately contact the police so that the individual can be searched by police who have the appropriate training and powers of arrest.

'We also search hostel residents' rooms without warning, enabling us to check for possible possession of weapons.

'MAPPA meetings consider a range of pro-active options to protect the public.

Although the possibility of hostel staff using body scanners has recently been discussed, the only agreed resulting action was to use the equipment to enhance a room search.

'It is contrary to national Approved Premises guidance for hostel staff to perform body searches.'

MAPPA was launched eight years ago to tackle issues surrounding serious offenders who have been freed after serving at least twelve months and who are deemed a serious threat to the public.

Chief Inspector Bob Ryan of Northumbria Police said: 'We have not provided any central direction to the Probation Service on the purchase or use of body scanners.

'However, we will always support and provide guidance to our partners in relation to safeguarding their staff or the public.'

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: 'Body scanners are not used nationally in approved premises. Where MAPPA decides that it is necessary to search offenders in approved premises, local police will be called to carry out a body search.

'Probation staff carry out random room searches on a regular basis.'

(Bail Hostel weapons)

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