Says Soft-touch system let sicko free

THE London Bridge terrorist atrocity appears to be developing into a major scandal. The jihadi killer was originally jailed indefinitely for terror offences. If that had not been changed, his two victims would still be alive today.

Usman Khan’s sentence was cut on appeal to 16 years.

He was released automatically on licence – as the law requires – after eight years last December. If that had not happened, his two victims would still be alive today.

Khan was required to wear an electronic tag so that the authorities could keep tabs on him.

They clearly didn’t do it properly. Khan was able to travel to London from his home in Stafford, arm himself with two knives and strap a fake – but realistic – suicide belt to his body. If he had been closely monitored, his two victims would still be alive today.

It doesn’t seem too difficult to follow known terrorists. There were 51 released from our prisons last year.

So why don’t armed police track their every step?

The public would be far happier in the knowledge that a jihadi plotter couldn’t take a pee in a public toilet without an officer watching from the next stall.

Convicted terrorists need to know that they will never again have a private moment to plan a new atrocity. If we had done that, Khan’s two victims would still be alive today.

Boris Johnson yesterday vowed to “toughen up sentences”.

He said: “I’ve said for a long time now, that I think the practice of automatic, early release where we cut a sentence in half and let really serious and violent offenders out early, simply isn’t working.

“And I think you’ve had some very good evidence of how that isn’t working, I’m afraid, with this case.”

Yet the Conservatives have been in power since 2010. During that time, we’ve lost 23,000 police and the parole and probation services have been left in a shambles.

There is nothing in the Tory manifesto that would make a difference in this case, say justice experts. If they had acted earlier, Khan’s two victims would still be alive.

Automatic release has to stop, especially for convicted terrorists. We must be sure they cannot offend again. Anyone who is freed must be monitored. It’s common sense.

Anything less will be an insult to the two tragic victims of evil Usman Khan.