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John Worboys: Minister considering judicial review John Worboys: Minister considering judicial review
(35 minutes later)
The justice secretary is considering a judicial review of the decision to free sex attacker John Worboys on parole.The justice secretary is considering a judicial review of the decision to free sex attacker John Worboys on parole.
The Sunday Times reports David Gauke has sought advice on whether a judicial review could succeed. It is understood he will only move forward if there is a reasonable prospect of success.The Sunday Times reports David Gauke has sought advice on whether a judicial review could succeed. It is understood he will only move forward if there is a reasonable prospect of success.
The Parole Board said it was "confident correct procedures were followed".The Parole Board said it was "confident correct procedures were followed".
Taxi driver Worboys was jailed in 2009 and is thought to have carried out more than 100 rapes and sexual assaults.Taxi driver Worboys was jailed in 2009 and is thought to have carried out more than 100 rapes and sexual assaults.
He had been convicted at Croydon Crown Court of 19 offences and ordered to serve at least eight years in jail. The court heard he gave his victims drug-laced champagne before attacking them in his taxi. He had been convicted at Croydon Crown Court of 19 offences and ordered to serve at least eight years in jail. The court heard he gave his victims drug-laced champagne before attacking them in his London taxi.
The Parole Board announced on 4 January that he would be released from prison, sparking criticism from victims' groups and representatives over the decision and the fact many of his victims were not informed in advance of it being made public.The Parole Board announced on 4 January that he would be released from prison, sparking criticism from victims' groups and representatives over the decision and the fact many of his victims were not informed in advance of it being made public.
The way in which Worboys's release was handled has already triggered a government review of the way the Parole Board reaches its decisions.The way in which Worboys's release was handled has already triggered a government review of the way the Parole Board reaches its decisions.
The Sunday Times article says Mr Gauke's possible intervention comes after four cabinet ministers warned that Worboys's release might be unlawful because victims were not consulted.The Sunday Times article says Mr Gauke's possible intervention comes after four cabinet ministers warned that Worboys's release might be unlawful because victims were not consulted.
The Ministry of Justice told the Sunday Times: "The secretary of state commissioned advice last week about the plausibility and potential success of a judicial review; he is minded to move forward if there is a reasonable prospect of success."The Ministry of Justice told the Sunday Times: "The secretary of state commissioned advice last week about the plausibility and potential success of a judicial review; he is minded to move forward if there is a reasonable prospect of success."
Analysis
By Alex Forsyth, BBC political correspondent
There was a huge backlash to the Parole Board's decision to release John Worboys; from those who thought it was the wrong decision, and from those who were critical about the way victims has been informed about it.
At this stage, David Gauke's actions are just a scoping exercise, he won't proceed unless he feels there are grounds to do so.
Nonetheless, this is significant. It is highly unusual for a justice secretary to intervene in the decisions of the Parole Board in this way, and that's because the Parole Board is very deliberately independent of government.
It's understood that Mr Gauke, who is new to the job of justice secretary, takes that independence very seriously and wants to maintain it, which is why at this stage he is just collecting information about the possibility of a judicial review.
It comes after the Crown Prosecution Service said it would not review the 93 cases that Worboys was not prosecuted over.It comes after the Crown Prosecution Service said it would not review the 93 cases that Worboys was not prosecuted over.
Parole Board chairman Nick Hardwick has said hearing the decision must have been "horrible" for the women, but the board was "confident" 60-year-old Worboys would not reoffend.Parole Board chairman Nick Hardwick has said hearing the decision must have been "horrible" for the women, but the board was "confident" 60-year-old Worboys would not reoffend.
He said the fact some victims were not informed was a fault with the parole system, but the decision itself would have been carefully considered.He said the fact some victims were not informed was a fault with the parole system, but the decision itself would have been carefully considered.