Appropriate accommodation needs to be provided for prison leavers

Chair of Housing and Communities Board insists issue is being looked at

The Isle of Man Government needs to ensure bail accommodation is right, and appropriate, for those leaving prison.

That's from the chair of the Housing and Communities Board.

David Ashford has responded to reports of recent court cases in which people were unable to be released from custody as there was no suitable housing available for them.

In September the deputy high bailiff said it was ‘highly unsatisfactory’ that a vulnerable defendant couldn’t be sentenced because he had nowhere to live.

The following month he was jailed after being described as being 'failed by the system'. 

In response the Department of Home Affairs said whilst it has a range of options at its disposal they aren’t always able to be utilised because of their ‘complex needs, risks or vulnerabilities’.

Mr Ashford insisted the issue is being looked into:

You can watch the full Manx Radio Mannin Line interview here: