Raab control of parole ‘an illegal move’
DOMINIC Raab has been accused of “an illegal power grab” over plans to control parole decisions.
The Justice Secretary is likely to be met by a legal challenge if he introduces powers to block the release of dangerous inmates.
Mr Raab claims having more clout would stop a repeat of scandals such as the release of child killer Colin Pitchfork last year.
But a judicial source said it would turn Mr Raab into “judge and jury”.
The board is a quasijudicial body deciding the fate of high-risk prisoners.
Ministers used to have a parole veto but it was axed after legal challenges in the UK and Europe.
In 2020-21 the board released 4,289 prisoners, of whom 27 committed a further serious offence.