Shropshire Star

Families fume at Stoke Heath prison halfway house plan

Worried residents have hit out at plans to let some inmates from a prison and young offenders' institution near Market Drayton live in an open house outside the walls.

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Bosses at HMP & YOI Stoke Heath, in Warrant Road, Stoke Heath, unveiled their new Clive Unit at an open day this week.

But residents living in nearby Dutton Close have criticised the move, claiming there has been no proper consultation and it will put the safety of residents at risk.

It is believed up to 16 inmates will live at the 'halfway house' and have unrestricted freedom between 6.45am and 9pm to carry out work placements.

One resident, who did not want to be named, said: "We live less than 600 metres away from HMP Stoke Heath but there has been no formal approach to the residents of Dutton Close.

"Among the residents are serving prison officers, retired prison officers, the widows of prison officers, families with teenage children and families with young children."

The open house is two converted cottages previously used as the prison officers' canteen. Prisoners will be checked at 9pm to ensure that they have returned; if they have not the police will be called.

Residents said they want assurances on the type of offenders who are likely to be living unsupervised and whether sex offenders or people in prison for violence will be given the opportunity to live outside prison walls.

The resident said: "There is no objection to offenders being released on a daily basis at 9am and returning by 5pm to go to work but leaving inmates unsupervised overnight is a step too far."

A Prison Service spokesman said: "Only prisoners who have passed a rigorous risk assessment and present a low risk of reoffending will be held at the new open unit at YOI Stoke Heath."

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