Approved Premises

This section gives details about work in probation Approved Premises.

People live in approved premises because:

• They have been ordered to do so by the courts as a condition of bail or
  
  
• It is a requirement of a community sentence because the court believes that they need more supervision or a settled address or
  
  
• It is a condition of their post-release prison licence.

Offenders living in approved premises accommodation are not free to come and go as they please but have to follow strict rules including a curfew, usually from 11pm to 7am.

Approved premises' are staffed round the clock.

Staff are in close contact with
- the police
- residents
- the local community.

Approved premises staff have a wealth of experience and training. They have an opportunity to influence positive change with offenders and prevent re-offending.

People living in approved premises have to comply with other requirements of Community Orders or licences such as attending groupwork programmes, training projects and other court order/licence conditions such as no contact with victims or reporting to the local police station.

An approved premises is a good stepping stone for a prisoner released back into the community for three reasons:

• It offers structure, stability and assists with rehabilitation programmes.
  
  
• It offers accommodation and time for careful planning of suitable, permanent accommodation for the resident elsewhere in the community.
  
  
• It offers added protection to the public from offenders who may have committed high risk offences.
  

		The National Association of Probation and Bail Hostels (NAPBH) The national organisation which aims to support and promote all probation and bail hostels approved by the Home Office. For further details please contact: Mike Short Director General Secretary NAPBH PO Box 13682 Cradley Heath B62 2DY Tel: 0121 550 6444 Fax: 0121 550 6444 Email: office@napbh.org.uk