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| Drop in lifers released on parole | Drop in lifers released on parole |
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| The number of prisoners serving life sentences who have been freed on parole has fallen significantly in England and Wales, the BBC has learned. | The number of prisoners serving life sentences who have been freed on parole has fallen significantly in England and Wales, the BBC has learned. |
| Since April the Parole Board has granted release in one in nine cases - around half the rate of last year. | |
| The board says it has exercised greater caution after two violent offenders committed murder after being released. | |
| The findings come at a time when the board is seeking to increase its independence from the government. | The findings come at a time when the board is seeking to increase its independence from the government. |
| Public protection | Public protection |
| Between April and September, there were 901 requests by life sentence prisoners, including murderers and rapists, to be released after serving their minimum term. | Between April and September, there were 901 requests by life sentence prisoners, including murderers and rapists, to be released after serving their minimum term. |
| Only 106 of these were granted. | Only 106 of these were granted. |
| Previously, about one in five prisoners serving life sentences were released. | Previously, about one in five prisoners serving life sentences were released. |
| Figures show the proportion of fixed-sentence prisoners freed on parole has also fallen. | Figures show the proportion of fixed-sentence prisoners freed on parole has also fallen. |
| Parole Board chairman Sir Duncan Nichol said his members were being more cautious after two high-profile cases in which violent offenders committed murder after being released from jail. | Parole Board chairman Sir Duncan Nichol said his members were being more cautious after two high-profile cases in which violent offenders committed murder after being released from jail. |
| The board's annual report, which is due to be published soon, is expected to reveal the number of freed prisoners sent back to jail for breaching their conditions of released has increased sharply. | The board's annual report, which is due to be published soon, is expected to reveal the number of freed prisoners sent back to jail for breaching their conditions of released has increased sharply. |
| Sir Duncan said that Home Secretary John Reid's "exhortations" to put public protection first had also impacted on the numbers of prisoners granted release. | Sir Duncan said that Home Secretary John Reid's "exhortations" to put public protection first had also impacted on the numbers of prisoners granted release. |
| The chairman said the fairness of the Parole Board's decisions could be called into question while it continued to remain under Home Office. | The chairman said the fairness of the Parole Board's decisions could be called into question while it continued to remain under Home Office. |
| He is calling for the responsibility for his organisation to be transferred away from the government department. | He is calling for the responsibility for his organisation to be transferred away from the government department. |