Dangerous criminals will be kept behind bars 'for as long as possible'

Dangerous criminals convicted of the most serious crimes will be kept behind bars ‘for as long as necessary’, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk vows

• Justice Secretary Alex Chalk will unveil Parole Board reforms in Parliament today
• He admitted public confidence was knocked by Pitchfork and Worboys cases

Dangerous criminals convicted of the most serious crimes will be kept behind bars ‘for as long as necessary’, the new Justice Secretary vowed yesterday.

Alex Chalk will today unveil Parole Board reforms in Parliament, introducing safeguards to prevent depraved killers being released early from prison.

He admitted yesterday that public confidence had been knocked in the wake of the Colin Pitchfork and John Worboys cases.

Black cab rapist Worboys, 65, was jailed indefinitely in 2009 for public protection with a minimum term set of eight years after he was found guilty of 19 offences involving attacks on 12 women.

He was cleared for release in 2018, but the decision was overturned by the courts after a furious public backlash.

Alex Chalk (pictured) will today unveil Parole Board reforms in Parliament, introducing safeguards to prevent depraved killers being released early from prison

Mr Chalk admitted yesterday that public confidence had been knocked in the wake of the Colin Pitchfork (left) and John Worboys (right) cases 

Subsequently Worboys received a life sentence when more victims came forward.

In another shocking case, Pitchfork, 63, was jailed for life after raping and murdering two girls in the 1980s, but was released in 2021 after the Parole Board deemed he didn’t pose a risk.

Just two months later he was back in jail for breaching the terms of his licence.

‘We all want to know that depraved criminals convicted of the worst violent and sexual crimes will be kept behind bars for as long as is necessary.

‘But unfortunately this confidence in our justice system has been knocked in recent years because of the decision to release two evil men – the black taxi rapist John Worboys and the child murderer and rapist Colin Pitchfork,’ Mr Chalk said.

‘Letting even one offender out of prison who is not safe to be on the streets means they can go on to commit a violent or sexual crime, shattering lives in the process.’

Under the new Victims and Prisoners Bill, ministers will be able to block the release of the most violent criminals who have been convicted of murder, rape, terrorism or killing a child.

It will also make it clear in law that prisoners must not be released if they pose a threat to the public.

In addition, Mr Chalk wants to stop the ‘ridiculous farce’ of murderers sentenced to whole life orders like Levi Bellfield, getting married behind bars.

The former barrister who prosecuted murderers and terrorists wrote in the Sun on Sunday: ‘Serial killers like Levi Bellfield robbed his victims of the chance to ever walk down the aisle.

Mr Chalk wants to stop the ‘ridiculous farce’ of murderers sentenced to whole life orders like Levi Bellfield (pictured), getting married behind bars

‘It is grotesque for victims’ families to think of killers enjoying their big day while in prison. So we are putting a stop to it.

‘Through this Bill we will also stand up for victims, ensuring that they are listened to, supported and treated with dignity as their case progresses through the justice system.’ Under the reforms, more police officers will be recruited to sit on parole boards, using their experience to assess offenders and ensure those who still pose a risk stay behind bars.

For the first time, victims will have a legal right to know how their cases are progressing, if their attacker is due for release or parole and when foreign offenders will be deported.

Mr Chalk acknowledged: ‘Too often victims have been treated as spectators rather than placed at the heart of the justice process.’

He promised the reforms will ‘place victims at the heart of the process, so people have confidence in our courts and law enforcement and they will ensure attackers like Worboys and Pitchfork are not released if they are still a threat to the public.’

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