St Albans residents are angry following news that a corrections facility for violent offenders is being set up in the area.

A letter from the Corrections Department sent to locals has advised them of residential programme Ara Poutama being set up 14 Bristol Street.

It has to go through the council’s resource content process first.

The programme supports up to 16 men learn new skills to stop them using violence and engaging in other offending.

They will live at the property while participating in a programme and will receive rehabilitative wraparound support.

Offenders will be electronically monitored by GPS while living at the property.

On the Corrections website in the frequency asked questions section -Where will residents be from?

“It says the programme will be targeted primarily at men who have long-standing personal or iwi links to the Southern Region, particularly Canterbury.”

A local resident told Newstalk ZB’s Chris Lynch she is terrified.

“I have two little girls and the thought of having up to sixteen violent men, that have also engaged in other criminal offending in a residential corrections facility living across the road from me scares the life out of me.”

“Apparently they will be electronically monitored by GPS, and that is supposed to put our minds at ease.”?

She said “as a rate payer I am horrified and alarmed that this type of facility can move into a family neighbourhood.”

“Besides our safety and peace of mind, this will also impact on the value of our property. This just cannot go through on Bristol St alone we have so many young families, many of whom have been doing up there ‘forever homes’ we have a pre school, retirement home and the Blind Foundation, all that have put their roots down as it’s a safe and friendly environment to live in.”

The Department of Corrections says they contracted Beca to provide a social impact assessment on the proposed programme.

This will be an independent assessment of the potential positive and negative social impacts of the programme on the community.

It will be published in mid-January.

Community information sessions will be held out Rehua marae between:

• 4.00-8.30 pm Wednesday 2 December

• 12.00-8.30 pm Thursday 3 December.