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| 'Utter regret' for French murders | 'Utter regret' for French murders |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The chief probation officer who resigned over the botched handling of double killer Dano Sonnex has expressed his "utter regret". | |
| French students Gabriel Ferez and Laurent Bonomo suffered hundreds of stab wounds in the attack by Sonnex, 23, and Nigel Farmer, 34. | French students Gabriel Ferez and Laurent Bonomo suffered hundreds of stab wounds in the attack by Sonnex, 23, and Nigel Farmer, 34. |
| Sonnex should have been in custody but was wrongly bailed. | Sonnex should have been in custody but was wrongly bailed. |
| David Scott accepted his service was "partly to blame" and said he was "profoundly sorry". | |
| Mr Scott his profession risked becoming a "Cinderella" service in London because of officers' workloads. | |
| He said: "That these crimes took place at all is a matter for profound sorrow. | |
| "That they occurred on my watch as head of London Probation fills me with utter regret. | |
| "I took full responsibility for the performance of the staff that I led, and tendered my resignation as soon as it was clear that failings in the probation service were partly to blame for allowing the crimes to take place. | |
| But he said it was "not solely the probation service that was at fault". | But he said it was "not solely the probation service that was at fault". |
| "I can only hope that every agency involved in public protection work will learn from the tragic failings that took place," he said in a statement. | "I can only hope that every agency involved in public protection work will learn from the tragic failings that took place," he said in a statement. |
| The French research students were murdered at their rented south-east London flat in June 2008. | The French research students were murdered at their rented south-east London flat in June 2008. |
| Students Gabriel Ferez and Laurent Bonomo were tied up and stabbed | Students Gabriel Ferez and Laurent Bonomo were tied up and stabbed |
| Sonnex had been bailed for handling stolen goods when he should have been remanded in custody. | Sonnex had been bailed for handling stolen goods when he should have been remanded in custody. |
| His recall to prison was delayed and it took 33 days for the administrative process to be completed. | His recall to prison was delayed and it took 33 days for the administrative process to be completed. |
| It was a further 16 days before Metropolitan Police officers went to Sonnex's house to arrest him. | It was a further 16 days before Metropolitan Police officers went to Sonnex's house to arrest him. |
| Although Sonnex had tied up and threatened a couple he was given a verbal warning by his probation officer rather than being the subject of a review. | Although Sonnex had tied up and threatened a couple he was given a verbal warning by his probation officer rather than being the subject of a review. |
| Mr Scott said London faced "unique challenges" in delivering a quality service for London. | Mr Scott said London faced "unique challenges" in delivering a quality service for London. |
| And he admitted that "many more dangerous criminals are released onto the streets of the capital than anywhere else in the country". | And he admitted that "many more dangerous criminals are released onto the streets of the capital than anywhere else in the country". |
| There were, he said "recurrent problems in providing, supporting and equipping a sufficient number of skilled and experienced staff to monitor them". | There were, he said "recurrent problems in providing, supporting and equipping a sufficient number of skilled and experienced staff to monitor them". |
| Sonnex was told he will serve a minimum of 40 years. Farmer was told he must stay in prison for a minimum of 35 years. | Sonnex was told he will serve a minimum of 40 years. Farmer was told he must stay in prison for a minimum of 35 years. |
| The students' parents have pledged to sue the British authorities for a "failure" to prevent Sonnex carrying out his attack. | The students' parents have pledged to sue the British authorities for a "failure" to prevent Sonnex carrying out his attack. |
| Guy Bonomo, Laurent's father, said the two students "would be alive today if the British justice system had not failed us". | Guy Bonomo, Laurent's father, said the two students "would be alive today if the British justice system had not failed us". |
| Justice Secretary Jack Straw admitted Sonnex should have been in custody, saying: "It was the consequence of very serious failures across the criminal justice system that he had not been arrested and incarcerated some weeks before." | Justice Secretary Jack Straw admitted Sonnex should have been in custody, saying: "It was the consequence of very serious failures across the criminal justice system that he had not been arrested and incarcerated some weeks before." |
| Mr Straw added that the fundamental problems within the probation service had been managerial claiming that the London operation had "under spent by £3.5m on a budget of £154m". | Mr Straw added that the fundamental problems within the probation service had been managerial claiming that the London operation had "under spent by £3.5m on a budget of £154m". |