Lack of accommodation for vulnerable custody leavers a 'desperate situation' 

Probation officer tells court it is a 'huge concern'

A lack of accommodation for vulnerable people leaving custody on the Isle of Man is a ‘desperate situation’.

That’s the view of a senior probation officer following another delay in the sentencing of a defendant who has nowhere to go when he leaves prison.

The 28-year-old is currently being held on remand after committing six offences including burglary, possessing a prohibited article and causing damage to property.  

At Douglas Courthouse last week the deputy high bailiff adjourned sentencing in his case saying she couldn’t follow a recommendation to impose a probation order if he had no address.

Rachael Braidwood said doing so would be ‘setting him up to fail’ and she was not happy to proceed until all options had been explored.  

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"It's staggering to me that there is no suitable accommodation for those who need it the most."

- Deputy High Bailiff Rachael Braidwood

Today (24 September) it was revealed that there is still no accommodation available to him.

That’s despite ongoing discussions between Manx Care and the departments of Health and Social Care and Home Affairs.

Probation Officer Sarah Proudlove told the court it was becoming ‘increasingly more difficult’ to house people with ‘complex needs’ and very few landlords would take those who’ve been in the criminal justice system.  

She also highlighted the lack of a ‘functioning homeless shelter’ and the fact the Island’s bail hostel, Tromode House, is ‘consistently full’ saying it was a ‘huge concern’.

When asked what would happen to the defendant if he was released from custody with nowhere to live Mrs Proudlove told the court, without accommodation and some level of support, he ‘would not survive’.

Sending him back into the community without support, she said, would not ‘end well’ adding: “This young man has been let down many, many times.”

'Desperate Attempt'

The court head the defendant’s offending related to his ‘desperate attempts for help’ and were a result of ‘systematic failings’ in terms of access to support.

Another probation officer, who has worked with the defendant, told the court his offending was a ‘survival mechanism’ driven by a ‘profound sense of abandonment’.

Highlighting that the defendant is not the only individual the probation service is trying to support with accommodation Mrs Proudlove added there was currently a ‘relatively high’ number of homeless people.

The defendant’s advocate added his client had spent the last week in segregation in custody, and they were seeking mental health input, adding: “Even the prison is a desperate situation.”

Adjournment

Adjourning sentencing for another week Deputy High Bailiff Braidwood told the court she needed to make sure ‘every avenue is explored’ adding: “I’m loathe to impose custody purely because there is no accommodation on Island.”

Questioning what support he’d receive in prison she added: “Yes he’ll be warm and have food but that’s the extent of it.”

The defendant will next appear in court on October 1 with Deputy High Bailiff Braidwood telling the court: “It’s staggering to me that there is no suitable accommodation for those who need it the most.”

Response

Last week the Department of Home Affairs told Manx Radio: “While we can’t comment on individual cases the prison and probation team work hard to ensure that offenders are released to appropriate accommodation where available.

In cases where the relevant criteria is met Tromode House may be used or other suitable accommodation provided by Social Services.

"There is also access to hotels, hostels and other alternative accommodation for vulnerable residents - including those going through the court system or as a step after leaving prison.

"We work closely with partners in other agencies to find accommodation but the department recognises that there will always be a small cohort of people whose complex needs, risks or vulnerabilities mean they are not suitable for the accommodation that is available.

“The department is a partner in the Housing and Communities Board and this is one of the issues the board is currently exploring as part of the homelessness strategy.”