Paedophiles could be housed in community hostels

Plans to house dangerous paedophiles in community hostels today put the Government on a collision course with campaigners.

The Home Office set out proposals to build up to five treatment centres, each holding about 25 high-risk sex offenders.

Residents in the hostels would live under close supervision after release from prison. The Home

Office pointed to studies suggesting expert treatment at purpose-built centres can cut reconviction rates from three in 10 to one in 10. It was unclear where the centres could be built.

However, there is certain to be fierce resistance from

local parents

wherever they are proposed. A previous government attempt to build a similar centre in Surrey was abandoned in the face of fierce local resistance.

At any time, up to 500 of the highest risk child sex offenders are being monitored in the community.

Housing them in hostels would make it easier for police to monitor their movements, as well as allowing specialist programmes to try to change their offending behaviour.

Protests against the paedophile centres could mirror those which thwarted attempts by the Home Office to build asylum detention centres in the English countryside.