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John Worboys: Parole chief apologises to victims John Worboys: Parole chief apologises to victims
(about 1 hour later)
The chairman of the Parole Board has apologised "unreservedly" after some victims of sex attacker John Worboys were not told about his release.The chairman of the Parole Board has apologised "unreservedly" after some victims of sex attacker John Worboys were not told about his release.
Nick Hardwick said hearing the decision must have been "horrible" for the women but the board was "confident" Worboys would not re-offend.Nick Hardwick said hearing the decision must have been "horrible" for the women but the board was "confident" Worboys would not re-offend.
Former black-cab driver Worboys is believed to have carried out more than 100 rapes and sexual assaults on women.Former black-cab driver Worboys is believed to have carried out more than 100 rapes and sexual assaults on women.
Victims' groups and charities have condemned the decision to free him.Victims' groups and charities have condemned the decision to free him.
In 2009 the 60 year old was convicted of 19 offences including one count of rape and has served 10 years in jail, but police believe he has attacked many more women.
Professor Hardwick said the fact some victims were not informed was a fault with the parole system, but the decision itself would have been carefully considered.Professor Hardwick said the fact some victims were not informed was a fault with the parole system, but the decision itself would have been carefully considered.
"We look at a whole range of evidence - both what happened in the original offences, the judge's sentencing remarks, the programmes or work a prisoner has done, reports from people who know the prisoner well," he said."We look at a whole range of evidence - both what happened in the original offences, the judge's sentencing remarks, the programmes or work a prisoner has done, reports from people who know the prisoner well," he said.
"So we look at a whole range of evidence in coming to our decision. And we have to be confident that someone won't re-offend before we release them. And that's what the panel would have done in this case.""So we look at a whole range of evidence in coming to our decision. And we have to be confident that someone won't re-offend before we release them. And that's what the panel would have done in this case."
Why did Worboys face no further prosecutions? Why do the police believe he attacked more women?
The Met Police revealed in 2010 that other women had come forward in the wake of Worboys' conviction and they suspected he had attacked more than 100 women between 2002 and 2008.The Met Police revealed in 2010 that other women had come forward in the wake of Worboys' conviction and they suspected he had attacked more than 100 women between 2002 and 2008.
Although the allegations were investigated, no further action was taken on the advice of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), police said.Although the allegations were investigated, no further action was taken on the advice of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), police said.
Labour MP Sir Keir Starmer, who was then director of public prosecutions, is facing calls to explain why the allegations against Worboys were not taken further.Labour MP Sir Keir Starmer, who was then director of public prosecutions, is facing calls to explain why the allegations against Worboys were not taken further.
What is Keir Starmer's reaction? Why were no more prosecutions brought?
Speaking outside his home on Friday, the shadow Brexit secretary said: "First and foremost, it's very important that if there are any allegations that anybody thinks have not been looked into, sufficiently or at all, they go to the police and make those allegations so they can be looked into. Speaking outside his home on Friday, the shadow Brexit secretary said that if anybody felt allegations they had made about Worboys had not been sufficiently investigated they should "go to the police".
"The second important thing is that it's really important that what's said is factually accurate. When asked whether he thought the right decision was made by prosecutors, he said only the Crown Prosecution Service could provide "an accurate read-out of the decisions that were made".
"As you know, the Crown Prosecution Service holds the file on this case, they made the decisions in the case, and it is really important you go to them to get an accurate read-out of the decisions that have been made."
Asked whether he thought the right decision was made by prosecutors, he added: "I think these decisions were nine years ago and it's very important you go to the Crown Prosecution Service and get an accurate read-out of the decisions that were made, particularly if further allegations have been made now."
Why were some victims not told about Worboy's release?Why were some victims not told about Worboy's release?
One of Worboys' victims told BBC News she was unaware that his parole hearing had been successful and he was due to be let out.One of Worboys' victims told BBC News she was unaware that his parole hearing had been successful and he was due to be let out.
And Harriet Wistrich, a lawyer who represents two of Worboys' victims, said neither woman had received a letter to inform them that the convicted rapist would be released.And Harriet Wistrich, a lawyer who represents two of Worboys' victims, said neither woman had received a letter to inform them that the convicted rapist would be released.
She said one of the women felt she should not have had to "receive the news and see his face everywhere while cooking tea for her children".She said one of the women felt she should not have had to "receive the news and see his face everywhere while cooking tea for her children".
BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said responsibility for informing victims rested with the National Probation Service. Responsibility for informing victims about Worboys' release rested with the National Probation Service.
He said it appeared some victims had not been informed about the release by the time news broke of Worboy's release while some may not have heard because the Probation Service was not obliged to contact them. The Ministry of Justice said some victims had chosen not to be updated about the case while others chose to be informed by letters which would have taken some time to arrive.
What has been the reaction to Worboys' release? "Our priority is to support victims and it is right that we respect their decisions about how they are contacted," a spokesperson said.
The Parole Board's ruling has also sparked outrage among victims' support groups. Were victims' voices heard strongly enough?
The Parole Board's ruling has sparked outrage among victims' support groups.
The charity Rape Crisis described Worboys' period of incarceration as "woefully short" for such a "dangerous and manipulative perpetrator".The charity Rape Crisis described Worboys' period of incarceration as "woefully short" for such a "dangerous and manipulative perpetrator".
Lisa Thompson from the charity, Rape and Sexual Violence Project, said the decision was "a massive failure of women who courageously went to the police in the first place and had then gone to court."Lisa Thompson from the charity, Rape and Sexual Violence Project, said the decision was "a massive failure of women who courageously went to the police in the first place and had then gone to court."
Chairwoman of the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee Yvette Cooper has called for the Parole Board to publish its decisions, "given the seriousness of this case". Specialist abuse lawyer Richard Scorer, whose firm represented 11 of the victims, said the Parole Board must reveal whether "manipulative" Worboys "has finally admitted his crimes and shown any remorse".
Prof Hardwick said the Parole Board were "specifically forbidden" from disclosing details by law. Chairwoman of the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee Yvette Cooper has called for the Parole Board to publish its decisions, although Prof Hardwick said the Parole Board were forbidden from disclosing details by law.
A cross party group of 58 MPs has also written to the Secretary of State for Justice David Lidington calling for investigation into whether the voices of Worboys' victims were heard during the decision to release him.A cross party group of 58 MPs has also written to the Secretary of State for Justice David Lidington calling for investigation into whether the voices of Worboys' victims were heard during the decision to release him.
What might happen now?What might happen now?
Prof Hardwick said there should be robust arrangements in place for victims to be informed and that he would welcome the opportunity to open up the Parole Board to scrutiny. Prof Hardwick said he wanted to make the Parole Board's decisions more transparent and he would "welcome the backing of MPs to do that".
"We will shortly be launching a public consultation about how we share our decision-making with the public," he said. But he said it needed a consultation was required first "as it was not straightforward process".
"One good thing that might come out of this is that I hope that parliamentarians will see the need for change and we will get some backing for plans to open the parole system up.
"I mean I agree with what people are saying, for justice to be done it needs to be seen to be done. The Parole Board is much too closed a process. I want to open it up and I'd welcome the backing of MPs to do that".
How did Worboys carry out his crimes?How did Worboys carry out his crimes?
Worboys, a former stripper from Rotherhithe, south-east London, targeted young women who had been drinking in the West End of LondonWorboys, a former stripper from Rotherhithe, south-east London, targeted young women who had been drinking in the West End of London
After deceiving them with a ruse that he had won the lottery, he produced champagne and a carrier bag stuffed with cash, before inviting them to celebrate with him.After deceiving them with a ruse that he had won the lottery, he produced champagne and a carrier bag stuffed with cash, before inviting them to celebrate with him.
But the alcohol was laced with powerful sedatives, and once the drugs had taken hold he attacked the women in the back of his cab.But the alcohol was laced with powerful sedatives, and once the drugs had taken hold he attacked the women in the back of his cab.
What was he convicted of?What was he convicted of?
Worboys was convicted in 2009 of 19 charges of drugging and sexually assaulting 12 women passengers and one charge of rape.Worboys was convicted in 2009 of 19 charges of drugging and sexually assaulting 12 women passengers and one charge of rape.
In court, during which he was described as a "repetitive predatory sexual offender", Worboys was given an indeterminate sentence of imprisonment for public protection (IPPs) and told he would not be released until parole officials were convinced he did not pose a threat to women.In court, during which he was described as a "repetitive predatory sexual offender", Worboys was given an indeterminate sentence of imprisonment for public protection (IPPs) and told he would not be released until parole officials were convinced he did not pose a threat to women.
He was ordered to serve at least eight years in jail but when he is released from prison later this month, aged 60, he will have spent a decade in custody, including a period on remand.He was ordered to serve at least eight years in jail but when he is released from prison later this month, aged 60, he will have spent a decade in custody, including a period on remand.
IPP sentences were abolished in 2012 after it emerged that they were being used more widely than intended but the decision was not applied retrospectively to more than 6,000 IPP prisoners - including Worboys - who were behind bars at that time.IPP sentences were abolished in 2012 after it emerged that they were being used more widely than intended but the decision was not applied retrospectively to more than 6,000 IPP prisoners - including Worboys - who were behind bars at that time.
What will his freedom look like?
Malcolm Fowler, a retired solicitor with 48 years experience, said Worboys "would be anything but a free man" on his release from prison.
The 60 year old will be subject to licence conditions including weekly reporting to his supervisor.
Any breach of his conditions could lead to his recall to prison.