Victims may get more power over criminals’ release

VICTIMS could get an independent right of appeal to challenge releases of criminals by the Parole Board after the recall to jail of double child murderer Colin Pitchfork for approaching young women in the street.

Dominic Raab, the Justice Secretary, is considering proposals to refocus the board on “protecting the public”, which are likely to result in tougher rules to prevent the release of offenders such as Pitchfork, who raped and killed two teenage girls. They could also see the Parole Board renamed to emphasise its refocused role with options already being canvassed such as “public protection” or “risk assessment” board.

“The Justice Secretary is looking closely at proposals. He thinks the Parole Board is adrift from its core focus and that the risk to the public must trump all other considerations,” said a Government source.

Pitchfork, 61, was jailed for life after raping and strangling 15-year-olds Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth in Leicestershire in 1983 and 1986 respectively. His 30-year minimum term was cut by two years in 2009, he was moved to an open prison three years ago and was then released in September.

But last Friday he was recalled after he approached young women on multiple occasions while out on walks from the bail hostel where he was living.

Mr Raab has inherited a root-andbranch review of the Parole Board, commissioned by his predecessor Robert Buckland following scandals including Pitchfork and the proposed release of black-cab rapist John Worboys.

Mr Raab is understood to have told officials he wants a tougher approach than had been envisaged and sent officials back to rewrite the plans.

The victim or the Justice Secretary can challenge a decision by the Parole Board, as happened with Pitchfork, but this only requires it to reconsider its verdict.

Under the review, appeals against parole decisions could be handed to a separate court either replacing, or in addition to, the reconsideration process – to end a practice that critics claim lets the board “mark its own homework”.

The review could also toughen the test for releasing criminals, so even if a board judges they are no longer a threat to the public the verdict could be overridden on safety grounds.

Prof Ian Acheson, a former prison governor and former adviser on extremism, said: “There is a presumption in favour of rehabilitation. It’s a kind of default in the mindset of the people appointed there.

“What I have argued for consistently – certainly for terrorist offenders – is that it needs a single risk management agency understanding every aspect of the system to protect the public.”