The Home Office has announced plans to identify suitable sites for
around five residential treatment centres for sex offenders.
Research published alongside the plans into the success of
residential treatment at the Wolvercote Clinic in Surrey shows that
reconviction rates halved for higher risk offenders. The clinic,
run by the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, was the only residential
treatment centre for child sex offenders until it closed two years
ago.
A second piece of research carried out for the Home Office
concludes that such centres would provide a valuable resource to
rehabilitate offenders and protect the public.
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Minister for correctional services Paul Goggins said the government
had introduced the Sexual Offences Act 2003 to increase protection
for the vulnerable and ensure abusers were appropriately
punished.
"Our work to identify suitable sites for residential centres for
treating sex offenders is part of this public protection agenda,"
he added.
Chief executive of rehabilitation agency Nacro Paul Cavadino said
the centres would reduce the number of children and adults who
suffered "the appalling trauma of sexual abuse".
Past attempts to open facilities have failed because of public
opposition. But Cavadino said: "Anyone campaigning against opening
such a centre must realise that they may be increasing danger to
the public and the suffering of future victims."
