Police are failing to arrest offenders residing in Northern Ireland’s probation hostels when they breach curfews and bail conditions, it has emerged.

An inspection of the six hostels in the province to house offenders — including sex offenders and violent criminals — has discovered difficulties in securing police assistance when bail conditions are breached.

Kit Chivers of the Criminal Justice Inspectorate has said that in one case an offender breached his curfew on 10 occasions but no sanctions were placed on him by police even though staff at the hostel reported the breaches to police.

“Bail conditions and curfews are placed on offenders for very good reasons: to stop them reoffending and to protect the public.

“What is the use of placing these conditions on offenders if the police are not going to take any action when they are breached?” asked Eileen Calder from the Rape Crisis Centre.

She continued: “These offenders are sticking two fingers up at the system and getting away with it.”

There are six hostels in Northern Ireland approved for housing recently-released and bailed offenders considered to be in need of supervision or who are unable to provide an appropriate address.

The premises house up to 76 offenders at any time.

The CJI report states that staff at the hostels routinely notify local police about breaches of bail by offenders.

“They (the staff) report that local police are responsive in these matters, but sometimes feel unable to deal with the breach,” the report states.

It adds that investigating officers can be slow to take a decision and when finally obtained, their decision may not support enforcement.

“This not only undermines (hostel) staff, but depletes confidence in the criminal justice system. Furthermore it is an inaccurate premise, as an Investigating Officer’s decision is not required under the terms of the Criminal Justice (NI) Order,” the report says.