A BAIL hostel is in a Huddersfield suburb – but its exact whereabouts remain a closely-guarded secret.

And it emerged today that one hostel was shut down in Huddersfield after complaints were made about someone living there.

The hostel in Birkby was closed after allegations that a man housed there was involved in drug-taking and antisocial behaviour.

Hostels nationwide are run by a private company for the Government, but it does not have to consult with local councillors or residents groups before setting one up.

Council officials, police and probation must be notified, but councils have no right to veto the plans unless they breach housing or planning rules.

The Huddersfield one is in the HD2 postcode area which covers Ashbrow, Birkby, Bradley, Dalton, Deighton, Ainley Top, Fartown, Fixby, Greenhead, Huddersfield, Lindley, Newsome and Sheepridge.

Government ministers say offenders released to the hostels do not require close supervision and support, but information just released to Parliament has revealed which postcode areas the hostels are in.

The private company, ClearSprings, provides accommodation for bailed offenders, criminals released on home curfew with electronic tags and suspects awaiting trial.

It was paid £8.3m for the contract between its start in June 2007 and November last year.

More than 1,338 defendants on bail have used the hostels.

Clr Mehboob Khan – speaking as a councillor for Greenhead ward – said: “I’ve been a local councillor for almost 13 years and it is very rare that concerns are raised by residents about bail hostels. From my experience they are well managed with good supervision and support for those people trying to be integrated back into the community.”

He added: “The providers were very helpful when there was an issue with a bail hostel in Birkby around three years ago.

“We were investigating allegations of drug-taking and antisocial behaviour and it was only when we checked who the landlord was that we discovered it was bail hostel. It was closed and the hostel moved elsewhere.

“From my experience we get better results dealing with the providers of bail hostels than we do with private landlords.

“Bear in mind we get thousands of complaints about drug-taking and antisocial behaviour and it is very rare a bail hostel is involved.”

Clr Andrew Marchington, joint Cabinet member for Adults and Communities which includes Safer Stronger Communities, said: “We always try to work closely with the police, probation service and the local community to make sure that problems with bail hostels do not arise, but I’m not aware of any major issues.”

Justice Minister David Hanson said: “The provision of bail accommodation is not new. The Government announced this policy in June 2007 to the House of Commons.

“The accommodation allows courts to bail defendants who are currently unable to provide a bail address or who could not be bailed without support. Residents in bail accommodation are no different to those who have been bailed by the courts to return to their own homes.

“Those held in ClearSprings accommodation are deemed not to require close supervision or support.

“More than half of those held in this accommodation are on bail and are therefore innocent until proven guilty.

“The security of the public remains paramount. Anyone who poses a risk to the public will continue to be held on remand. Anyone accused of sexual offences, arson and those who pose a threat to staff, other residents or the public are not housed in these properties.

“The Government remains committed to ensuring that ClearSprings are reminded of the importance of fulfilling their obligations to consult with local authorities, the police and probation.”

But a spokesman for the Local Government Association said: “There has been a lack of genuine consultation with local authorities and disregard for the wishes of local people when it comes to where these properties are located.

“Some councillors are quite understandably concerned that they have not been adequately consulted on what is happening in their area.

“It’s pure folly to dump this kind of accommodation into the middle of a residential street without properly asking for the views of local people and councils.

“The failure to consult properly with councils gives the unfortunate impression that these properties are being established under a veil of secrecy.

“This doesn’t help the local community or the people who are on bail or home detention. If local residents are unnecessarily alarmed the people staying at the property just come up against resentment.”