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| May urges greater Parole Board transparency following John Worboys case | May urges greater Parole Board transparency following John Worboys case |
| (8 days later) | |
| Justice secretary to conduct review of procedures following furore over decision to release serial sex offender | |
| Owen Bowcott Legal affairs correspondent | |
| Sun 7 Jan 2018 11.48 GMT | |
| Last modified on Mon 8 Jan 2018 00.35 GMT | |
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| Theresa May has called for greater transparency in Parole Board decisions on releasing prisoners such as the serial sex offender John Worboys. | Theresa May has called for greater transparency in Parole Board decisions on releasing prisoners such as the serial sex offender John Worboys. |
| In a television interview on Sunday morning, the prime minister supported demands for victims to be given more information about when and why their attackers are to be let out of jail. | In a television interview on Sunday morning, the prime minister supported demands for victims to be given more information about when and why their attackers are to be let out of jail. |
| The justice secretary, David Lidington, is to conduct a review of Parole Board procedures following the furore over the freeing of the former black-cab driver who is believed to have drugged and assaulted more than 100 women. | The justice secretary, David Lidington, is to conduct a review of Parole Board procedures following the furore over the freeing of the former black-cab driver who is believed to have drugged and assaulted more than 100 women. |
| Appearing on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show on Sunday, May declined to comment on her role when home secretary in intervening in a supreme court case on the side of the police against two of Worboys’ victims who are seeking compensation. | Appearing on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show on Sunday, May declined to comment on her role when home secretary in intervening in a supreme court case on the side of the police against two of Worboys’ victims who are seeking compensation. |
| “The Parole Board operates independently but I think it’s right that we as a government are saying that we should look at the question of openness and that we should look at this whole issue too of how victims are kept in touch with … what is happening,” May said. | “The Parole Board operates independently but I think it’s right that we as a government are saying that we should look at the question of openness and that we should look at this whole issue too of how victims are kept in touch with … what is happening,” May said. |
| “My instinct is that people do want to know more about why decisions are taken in the way that they’re taken … Let’s look at this properly … but I fully recognise why people are concerned about this.” | “My instinct is that people do want to know more about why decisions are taken in the way that they’re taken … Let’s look at this properly … but I fully recognise why people are concerned about this.” |
| May revealed that she personally knew “somebody who was one of [Worboys’] victims and who was not contacted and first heard of what was happening through the media.” | May revealed that she personally knew “somebody who was one of [Worboys’] victims and who was not contacted and first heard of what was happening through the media.” |
| May was asked why, as home secretary, she backed the Metropolitan police through a succession of court challenges against two women whose complaints were not taken seriously by officers. | May was asked why, as home secretary, she backed the Metropolitan police through a succession of court challenges against two women whose complaints were not taken seriously by officers. |
| She said she would not comment on individual cases and it was “for the courts to determine what is right”. The supreme court is due to rule on the women’s compensation claim in the coming weeks. | She said she would not comment on individual cases and it was “for the courts to determine what is right”. The supreme court is due to rule on the women’s compensation claim in the coming weeks. |
| May said her main concern was to “ensure that we give people the confidence to be able to report these crimes, make these allegations for them to be properly investigated and then the right and proper action to be taken.” | May said her main concern was to “ensure that we give people the confidence to be able to report these crimes, make these allegations for them to be properly investigated and then the right and proper action to be taken.” |
| Legislative changes could be needed in order to make Parole Board decisions more transparent, she conceded. | Legislative changes could be needed in order to make Parole Board decisions more transparent, she conceded. |
| In a separate statement, Lidington said it was vital that victims of rape and sexual assault have full confidence in the criminal justice system. | In a separate statement, Lidington said it was vital that victims of rape and sexual assault have full confidence in the criminal justice system. |
| “While sentence lengths for these horrific crimes have increased by over 30% since 2010 and more victims are coming forward, there is still more to do,” he said. “While it is right that the Parole Board should remain an independent body, I believe that there is a strong case to review how to allow greater openness about the decision-making process. | “While sentence lengths for these horrific crimes have increased by over 30% since 2010 and more victims are coming forward, there is still more to do,” he said. “While it is right that the Parole Board should remain an independent body, I believe that there is a strong case to review how to allow greater openness about the decision-making process. |
| “We also need to make sure arrangements across the criminal justice system ensure victims are both heard and, if they wish, kept informed about their case.” | “We also need to make sure arrangements across the criminal justice system ensure victims are both heard and, if they wish, kept informed about their case.” |
| Lidington said he had talked to the victims commissioner, Helen Newlove, and the chair of the Parole Board, Nick Hardwick, about what changes could be made to help victims of crime and provide greater transparency about the board’s work. | Lidington said he had talked to the victims commissioner, Helen Newlove, and the chair of the Parole Board, Nick Hardwick, about what changes could be made to help victims of crime and provide greater transparency about the board’s work. |
| “I want to make sure we consult victims’ groups and others, and to start this work now so that decisions can be taken before Easter,” he said. | “I want to make sure we consult victims’ groups and others, and to start this work now so that decisions can be taken before Easter,” he said. |
| The Parole Board is able to assess the continued risk posed by prisoners based on psychiatrist and prison guard reports at Parole Board hearings that take place around once a year for each offender. Some of the hearings are oral, some of them written. | The Parole Board is able to assess the continued risk posed by prisoners based on psychiatrist and prison guard reports at Parole Board hearings that take place around once a year for each offender. Some of the hearings are oral, some of them written. |
| In November, a three-person panel of the Parole Board directed the release of Worboys, following an oral hearing. He will be released back into society under strict monitoring on a licence period of at least 10 years. | In November, a three-person panel of the Parole Board directed the release of Worboys, following an oral hearing. He will be released back into society under strict monitoring on a licence period of at least 10 years. |
| Parole Board hearings are held in private and reasons for release are not made public, although a consultation is to be launched on how the body shares its decision-making with the public. | Parole Board hearings are held in private and reasons for release are not made public, although a consultation is to be launched on how the body shares its decision-making with the public. |
| The Parole Board is an independent body and its recommendation for Worboys’ release cannot be overturned by the Ministry of Justice. | The Parole Board is an independent body and its recommendation for Worboys’ release cannot be overturned by the Ministry of Justice. |
| There are examples of Parole Board decisions being challenged by judicial review in the courts, but only when the prisoner has been denied release. | There are examples of Parole Board decisions being challenged by judicial review in the courts, but only when the prisoner has been denied release. |
| Read a fuller explainer on John Worboys | Read a fuller explainer on John Worboys |
| Worboys, 60, has spent nine years and nine months in prison, including time on remand. He was given an indeterminate sentence, which had a minimum term of eight years, for drugging and sexually assaulting at least 12 women, including raping one of them. He is likely to be freed within weeks. | Worboys, 60, has spent nine years and nine months in prison, including time on remand. He was given an indeterminate sentence, which had a minimum term of eight years, for drugging and sexually assaulting at least 12 women, including raping one of them. He is likely to be freed within weeks. |
| A total of 105 complaints against Worboys reached the Crown Prosecution Service, but the Guardian understands the former taxi driver was formally protesting his innocence as recently as two years ago. | A total of 105 complaints against Worboys reached the Crown Prosecution Service, but the Guardian understands the former taxi driver was formally protesting his innocence as recently as two years ago. |
| After he was jailed in 2009, the CPS advised police that it would be in the public interest only to prosecute fresh allegations of rape. | After he was jailed in 2009, the CPS advised police that it would be in the public interest only to prosecute fresh allegations of rape. |
| The human rights organisation Liberty said that May “has serious questions to answer” about her intervention on behalf of the police in the supreme court case. | The human rights organisation Liberty said that May “has serious questions to answer” about her intervention on behalf of the police in the supreme court case. |
| Hardwick has apologised unreservedly because two victims had not been informed of the Parole Board’s decision, but has pointed out that it was the role of the probation service’s victim contact team to pass on the information. | Hardwick has apologised unreservedly because two victims had not been informed of the Parole Board’s decision, but has pointed out that it was the role of the probation service’s victim contact team to pass on the information. |
| Hardwick said that the law prevents publication of the three-person panel’s decision-making process in any individual case. However, he has acknowledged that the case highlights the need for greater transparency and said that he has “radical plans” to change the rules. | Hardwick said that the law prevents publication of the three-person panel’s decision-making process in any individual case. However, he has acknowledged that the case highlights the need for greater transparency and said that he has “radical plans” to change the rules. |
| Worboys, who also worked as a male stripper, was reported to have “found God” and regularly attended Church of England services during his time at Wakefield high-security prison. | Worboys, who also worked as a male stripper, was reported to have “found God” and regularly attended Church of England services during his time at Wakefield high-security prison. |
| Richard Scorer, a specialist abuse lawyer from Slater and Gordon, which represents 11 of Worboys’ victims, said: “Are his many victims seriously expected to believe that he has become a changed character? It is crucial that we are told the reasons why he has been allowed out.” | Richard Scorer, a specialist abuse lawyer from Slater and Gordon, which represents 11 of Worboys’ victims, said: “Are his many victims seriously expected to believe that he has become a changed character? It is crucial that we are told the reasons why he has been allowed out.” |
| Prisons and probation | |
| UK criminal justice | |
| John Worboys | |
| Theresa May | |
| news | |
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