As posted previously our next meeting is from 3pm on Thursday 14 June 2012
The place is the lounge at the Eastern Good Companions Club
Le Marais
St Clement
There is car parking and ALL are welcome to attend.
We did try to post a picture here of a notice that has been appearing in States housing blocks in the Le Marais area but for technical reasons this has had to be witheld.
This notice claims that a convicted sex offender has moved into the area and names the person etc.
We think that this raises particular matters of concern that might be discussed at our next meeting especially since it relates speifically to the Le Marais area.
Before the next meeting on 14 June we will try to contact Housing Minister Deputy Green to find out what is the official policy regarding housing such persons in areas where there are children and we will also try to obtain the comments of Senator Le Marquand, the Minister at the Home Affairs Department and the Law Officers regarding the legal aspects of displying such notices etc.
SSTAG has not formed any policy on this matter but at this stage is simply making enquiries to discover information and we will be interested to receive any comments on this or suggestions for other matters to be discussed in future.
WE hope to invite specialist speakers from the Housing, Health and Social Security Department to answer questions during the next few months so please let us know which issues concern you most - and don't forget to join SSTAG if you want to be an active participant .
Membership is only £5 if you are working and FREE if not.
SSTAG has received a reply from Sen/Minister Le Marquand re sex-offenders. He writes that;
ReplyDelete"The policy matters in relation to the protocols for the sharing of information under the JMAPPA system are agreed by a number of departments and ministers and I have recently placed before the States the first annual report in relation to the operation of these....
The protocols are very complex but in essence they allow the sharing of information with organizations or individuals where there this is appropriate and decisions are made upon an individual basis....
This is a controversial area with some people wanting such information to be publicly available and others being aware of the need for sex offenders to be protected from potential vigilante action and to be enabled to live a normal life, with appropriate safeguards being in place in order to protect potential future victims. That is why the JMAPPA protocols exist."
He has referred the matter on to others etc.
It seems from this that it might be useful to invite Sen Le Marquand either to attend the meeting on 14 June or send somebody with knowledge to answer questions so we at SSTAG will be suggesting this.
We are also specifically drawing attention to this matter with the St Clement Constable and the 2 Parish Deputies and inviting them to attend.
A reply from the Housing Department is still awaited.
SSTAG has now also received a response from Housing Minister Andrew Green. He writes;
ReplyDelete..."I can confirm that it is NOT the Housing Department's policy to house convicted sex offenders on family estates.
The Housing Department however, strives to ensure that all applicants who apply for social housing are treated with fairness and equality as well as acknowledging the diversity of applicants. Those who are considered to be vulnerable or who require additional support to live an independent lifestyle are referred by an agency, either statutory or voluntary, to the Supported Housing Group.
The Supported Housing Group has been in existence since 2003 and meets monthly to assesss applications referred to the Group. The Group is one that relies on a multi-agancy approach, representatives from key stakeholder agencies attend the meetings. Each client is offered full support for an initial period of two years during which time they are visited by their referring agency which in turn reports back to the Supported Housing Group on their personal situation and how ell they are maintaining their tenancy.
There are times when it is acknowledged that some Supported Housing Group clients personal situations
change, this is dealt with on a case by case assessment, any outcome is based on the best interest of the client as well as taking into account the community in which they reside.
The Housing Department is the lead agency in ensuring that all clients are offered appropriate accommodation for their needs and does so on information provided in any initial referral.
My investigations lead me to believe that the Supported Housing Group has an excellent track record of assisting the most vulnerable within the Island...."
We have asked for a representative from the Housing Department to attend this or a future meeting to answer any questions. It occurs to us at SSTAG that the many reforms currently planned and the "Gateway" housing allocation process might be a source of problems or difficulty. It is also not yet clear whether existing tenants have any say in the location of sex offenders in their areas etc.
Hopefully we can discuss some of these issues on 14 June at the next SSTAG public meeting.
To update re the three Parish representatives for St Clement SSTAG has received these responses;
ReplyDeleteConstable Len Norman writes that "the issue has now been resolved" but invites us to 'phone him.
Deputy Suzie Pinel (who is also the Assistant Minister at the Social Security Dept) is "away in Edinburg for a CPA conference all of next week" so is unable to attend the meeting on the 14 June. She offers to discuss this with myself in future.
Deputy Baudains writes "I am not a fan of blogs and of the very few I have visited find it tedious to get the information required." He invites us to send more information so he can make enquiries at Housing etc.
So it does not look likely that any St Clement States reps will be attending the public meeting on 14 June - but of course we have 10 Senators too who all have a responsibility for this Parish as much as any other and there are plenty of other Deputies who might see the relevance of such issues to their own electorates...
SSTAG has spoken with Constable Len Norman who clarified that the individual referred to in the notices has now been moved by the Housing Department to an area where ther are few or no children.
ReplyDeleteMinister Ian Le Marquand has also added that "the individual was not placed on the sex offenders register when sentenced but nevertheless his case should have been referred to the JMAPPA system for assessment. The Housing Department were therefore unaware of the issues involved."
He is also trying to find somebody from the Public Protection Unit of the Police to address the SSTAG meeting on 14 June.
Obviously there are further issues of concern raised here that need proper examination and discusssion....
If this person is a convicted sex offender why are they not on the register? and what is the criteria for placing people on the register.
ReplyDeleteWhere has this person been moved to now.
It's all just too much for some States Members.
SSTAG says that an interview with Adriana from Romania has now been posted on tomgruchy.blogspot.com and raises some more issues that will be discussed at the next and future SSTAG public meetings.
ReplyDeleteSenator Le Marquand has confirmed today (25 July) that "an internal review of what happened" is taking place with regard to the housing of the sex offender amd "he is awaiting the outcome so that lessons can be learned."
ReplyDeleteWe will publish any further information as it arrives.