Treatment centre to be sold off

A unique rehabilitation centre for paedophiles
is to close because its premises have been sold by the government
for development.

A Home
Office spokesperson says no decision has been taken on when the
Wolvercote Clinic in Epsom, Surrey, will close its doors, but some
reports suggest it could be within the next two months.

So far
no alternative site has been found for the clinic. The Home Office
says options are being looked at, but its preferred site in
Chertsey, Surrey has met with strong resistance from local
residents.

If, as
seems likely, the Wolvercote closes before a new site is found, a
dozen convicted paedophiles will have their treatment programmes
disrupted.

The
government-funded clinic provides an intensive 12-month residential
treatment programme to help rehabilitate child abusers. Those who
complete treatment greatly reduce their chances of
reoffending.

The
Lucy Faithfull Foundation, a child protection charity specialising
in child abuse prevention, which runs the Wolvercote, said it would
be disappointed if there had to be a suspension of the clinic’s
work.

But
Eithne Wallis, director of the National Probation Service for
England and Wales, said: “We have been working with the Lucy
Faithfull Foundation since October last year to develop plans for
that eventuality should it come about. These would ensure the
treatment of existing offenders is completed in their home areas
with foundation staff.”