When I was househunting last year, I came very close to putting in an offer for a surprisingly well-priced two bed flat. Only at the last minute did I discover that the house next door was what the man from Foxtons described as a “halfway house” – ie, a bail hostel. No need to worry, the estate agent explained, if these chaps were a risk they wouldn’t let them out of prison.
I had a flashback to these words today when I read David Hanson, the prisons minister, assuring us that the 150 hostels opening from next month, with minimal consultation, will only house people judged a “safe risk.” If any CoffeeHousers feel in danger of believing Mr Hanson, watching a quick section of this Panorama on bail hostels is the remedy.
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