‘Protection of public rather than freedom for prisoners must be priority in parole bids’
The Justice Secretary, Dominic Raab, right, and his predecessor, Robert Buckland, left, have waded into the renewed controversy over the granting of freedom to notorious Leicestershire child killer Colin Pitchfork
TWO political heavyweights have waded into the debate over Colin Pitchfork’s release and subsequent recall to prison last week.
The Justice Secretary, Dominic Raab, said that the parole system needs a rethink after the double child killer was back behind bars just weeks after being released, while his predecessor, Robert Buckland, said he “should have never been released in the first place.”
Pitchfork, pictured, was sentenced to life imprisonment in January 1988, with the judge giving him a 30-year minimum term - later reduced to 28 on appeal.
He had pleaded guilty, faced with overwhelming evidence including the first-ever DNA profiling, to the rape and murder of two Leicestershire schoolgirls, Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth, in 1983 and 1986 respectively. Both were 15.
Pitchfork as a child attended Market Bosworth High School and Bosworth College in Desford and lived in Newbold Verdon until his marriage in 1981.
Pitchfork was released from prison in September, at the age of 61, after serving 33-and-a-half years.
Previous parole hearings had denied him release in 2016, when his minimum 28 year term was reached, and again in 2018.
This year he convinced the Parole Board that he was suitable for release, the news of which drew widespread criticism from the girls’ families, politicians and the public.
His release went ahead in September, but less than two months later he is back behind bars after probation staff raised concerns about his behaviour.
He is understood to have approached young women on multiple occasions while out on walks from the bail hostel where he was living and was thought to be trying to establish a connection with them.
Pitchfork was also observed to have a “bad attitude”, not engaging with officials in the way they wanted him to.
There were also suggestions that, while taking part in polygraph tests, to which he is subjected as part of his licence conditions, he may have tried to cheat using breathing techniques that were spotted by staff.
Although officials said Pitchfork was not recalled for committing any further offences, the step was taken as a preventative measure after the string of incidents raised fears of a concerning pattern of behaviour.
The news led to serious questions about the Parole Board’s effectiveness after it had deemed Pitchfork was “suitable for release”.
Mr Raab, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, said yesterday that a more cautious approach to the parole system was needed to help put public protection, not freedom, first.
Set to implement a “root-andbranch” review of the parole system, Mr Raab said changes would ensure a “very rigorous process” was undertaken when considering Pitchfork for parole again.
“One of the problems in cases like this is that there is a presumption that unless it can be demonstrated that the individual presents a risk then they will be released,” he told BBC Breakfast.
“I want to look at that again because I think actually that presumption is the wrong way.
“If you take, for example, climate change and environmental law, we have what’s called a precautionary principle because of the risk involved.
“And I think in cases like this where there is a serious question about risk to the public and public protection I think we should have a more precautionary approach. The presumptions, I feel do not strike the right balance, I think the presumption must be in favour of public protection for those most serious of cases.”
Mr Buckland, a barrister who has been the Tory MP for South Swindon since 2010, hopes the child murderer will never be released again.
Speaking to Emma Barnett on BBC Radio 4, the former Justice Secretary - who was in office until the Cabinet reshuffle in mid-September - said he had challenged the Parole Board’s decision to free Pitchfork throughout.
“My view, bluntly, is that he should have never been released and that’s why I raised my concerns back in the summer,” he said.
“The evidence now, I think is very clear. Within weeks of his release, his behaviour was so concerning that the probation service acted swiftly to return him to prison.
“That’s surely got to be a factor now that they have to take into account in assessing risk to the public. And I frankly very much hope that we don’t see this man being released again.”
Pitchfork’s case now has to be referred to the Parole Board within 28 days of his recall to prison, which happened last Friday, and it is anticipated a hearing will take place within six months to determine whether he should stay in a closed prison, be transferred to an open prison or be released, which appears unlikely.
If Pitchfork is not freed after the upcoming hearing, his next parole review would be in two years’ time.
Mr Buckland said that had Pitchfork been sentenced today, he would have a whole life order and “we wouldn’t be in this position”, adding that he felt doubts raised earlier this year had now been confirmed.
He said: “Is this somebody that we could ever trust to truly wish to reform and comply with the authorities?
“That surely has to weigh heavily on future decision markers and I very much hope we never see this man in the community, ever.”
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