County MP hails moves to keep dangers to the public locked up for a longer time

SOUTH LEICESTER MP ALBERTO COSTA SPOKE AFTER GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT

MINISTERS TO

AN MP who campaigned against the release of child killer Colin Pitchfork has welcomed a move to keep him and others like him locked up on public safety grounds.

South Leicester MP Alberto Costa spoke after the government announced it intends to give ministers a greater role in the parole system’s handling of high-profile cases.

Pitchfork, pictured, was jailed for life in 1988 after raping 15-year-olds Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth in Leicestershire in 1983 and 1986. Both girls’ families have said ever since that they believe he will remain a danger to the public and should remain in prison for the rest of his life.

The 61-year-old was released from prison last year but was taken back into custody in November - two months later - due to concerns about his behaviour. Mr Costa, whose constituency covers Narborough and Enderby, where the two girls were murdered, said the Parole Board’s decision to release Pitchfork had been flawed.

Justice Secretary Dominic Raab has now set out his review of the parole system. He told MPs: “Our reforms will ensure that those offenders who present the highest risk to public safety are reviewed more rigorously with additional ministerial oversight.”

This could include cases involving murder, rape, terrorism and causing or allowing the death of a child. The move could leave the government open to legal challenges, but it is understood Mr Raab is confident separate plans to overhaul human rights laws will counter any claims.

The new regime has been drawn up with cases such as Pitchfork and that of London taxi driver and rapist John Worboys in mind. Worboys was also recently considered for release, but that was formally overturned after the case was examined by a new parole panel.

Mr Raab said: “Protecting the public is the government’s top priority. The proposals in this review will enforce public safety. Following the review we have conducted and published, I believe the case for reform is clear and made out.”

Offenders who are subject to life sentences, indeterminate sentences for public protection, extended sentences and certain recall cases are all subject to the parole process, meaning their release must be directed by the Parole Board.

Mr Costa said: “Given the deeply flawed nature of the Parole Board’s decision to release the convicted childrapist and killer Colin Pitchfork, it is clear to many, my constituents included, that a greater degree of oversight is needed over decisions to release dangerous prisoners.

“I am pleased the government has listened to my calls over the past few years and have acted to ensure Ministers will have the final say where public protection is concerned. My concerns over the decision to release Colin Pitchfork were only underlined further following his recall to prison after only a few weeks. That decision and the public outcry that resulted only underlined my intention to push for further changes to the parole system.

“The safety of the public must always be the primary consideration in these matters. And I greatly welcome this new level of oversight which will ensure dangerous offenders stay in prison for longer”.

Mr Raab also said on Wednesday he plans to appeal against the Parole Board decision which recommends the mother of “Baby P” should be freed from jail. Peter Connelly was a 17-month-old boy who was killed in London in 2007 after suffering more than 50 injuries over an eight-month period.

The Justice Secretary, other ministers and senior officials expect to review around 100 cases a year of the “top tier” offenders where the Parole Board has recommended their release.

In 2020/21, the Parole Board released 4,289 prisoners and refused to free 12,154. Of those released, it is estimated between 1,000 and 2,000 criminals serving life sentences could fall into the “top tier” category, prompting questions over what criteria will be used to decide which are the most dangerous offenders needing ministerial oversight and how all the cases will be personally reviewed.

Mr Raab told MPs in that same 20/21 period 27 offenders went on to be charged with a serious further offence after being released by the Parole Board, adding: “It’s fair to say that’s only a fraction of all cases, but it is still over once a fortnight that an offender released goes on to commit a serious offence while subject to supervision.”