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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
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| Police killer Harry Roberts to be freed | Police killer Harry Roberts to be freed |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A notorious police killer is to be released from prison after more than 45 years, prompting anger from officers. | A notorious police killer is to be released from prison after more than 45 years, prompting anger from officers. |
| Harry Roberts, 78, was jailed for life for murdering three unarmed officers in Shepherd's Bush, west London, in 1966. | Harry Roberts, 78, was jailed for life for murdering three unarmed officers in Shepherd's Bush, west London, in 1966. |
| They were shot in front of children playing in a street after pulling over a van containing Roberts and two others, after an armed robbery. | They were shot in front of children playing in a street after pulling over a van containing Roberts and two others, after an armed robbery. |
| The Metropolitan Police Federation said it was a "scandalous, hurtful and abhorrent decision". | The Metropolitan Police Federation said it was a "scandalous, hurtful and abhorrent decision". |
| 'Terrible outcome' | 'Terrible outcome' |
| In a statement it said the decision to release Roberts was a "betrayal of policing" by the judicial system and "opens the door even further for those who have scant regard for law and order". | In a statement it said the decision to release Roberts was a "betrayal of policing" by the judicial system and "opens the door even further for those who have scant regard for law and order". |
| It said: "Those who place their lives on the line to protect the public deserve better than this terrible outcome." | It said: "Those who place their lives on the line to protect the public deserve better than this terrible outcome." |
| BBC Home Affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said the Parole Board of England and Wales had approved the release. | BBC Home Affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said the Parole Board of England and Wales had approved the release. |
| He could be released from Littlehey Prison in Cambridgeshire within days, although it could take up to three weeks and after his release he will have to adhere to strict conditions. | |
| The murders of PC Geoffrey Fox, 41, Sgt Christopher Head, 30 and 25-year-old Det Con David Wombwell became one of the most infamous crimes of the 1960s, causing public outrage. | The murders of PC Geoffrey Fox, 41, Sgt Christopher Head, 30 and 25-year-old Det Con David Wombwell became one of the most infamous crimes of the 1960s, causing public outrage. |
| 'Should mean life' | 'Should mean life' |
| Roberts and two associates had been sitting in a van near Wormwood Scrubs prison when three policemen approached to ask questions. | Roberts and two associates had been sitting in a van near Wormwood Scrubs prison when three policemen approached to ask questions. |
| Roberts shot dead Mr Wombwell and Mr Head, while Mr Fox was killed by another member of the gang. | Roberts shot dead Mr Wombwell and Mr Head, while Mr Fox was killed by another member of the gang. |
| He was on the run for 90 days, using his Army jungle training to camp out in Hertfordshire, where he was eventually arrested. | He was on the run for 90 days, using his Army jungle training to camp out in Hertfordshire, where he was eventually arrested. |
| John Tully, chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation tweeted: "This man should never see the light of day again, life should mean life." | |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| Danny Shaw, BBC Home Affairs Correspondent | Danny Shaw, BBC Home Affairs Correspondent |
| The murders for which Harry Roberts has spent most of his adult life in prison caused public outrage and he was given three life sentences. | The murders for which Harry Roberts has spent most of his adult life in prison caused public outrage and he was given three life sentences. |
| A 30-year minimum term was recommended by the trial judge, who said the crimes were so heinous that Roberts might never be freed. | A 30-year minimum term was recommended by the trial judge, who said the crimes were so heinous that Roberts might never be freed. |
| However the Parole Board has now decided that Roberts can be released; the test it applies in such cases is whether or not the prisoner continues to pose a significant risk of serious harm. | However the Parole Board has now decided that Roberts can be released; the test it applies in such cases is whether or not the prisoner continues to pose a significant risk of serious harm. |
| Even though Harry Roberts has been in jail for 18 years beyond his tariff, the decision to free him is likely to spark considerable anger among police officers, many of whom believe he should never be let out. | Even though Harry Roberts has been in jail for 18 years beyond his tariff, the decision to free him is likely to spark considerable anger among police officers, many of whom believe he should never be let out. |
| Roberts had been held in a low-security prison. | Roberts had been held in a low-security prison. |
| Mark, who spent some time in prison with Harry Roberts, phoned BBC London 94.9 to say there "isn't a bad bone in his body". | |
| He said: "It's terrible for the officers losing their life but the man's done 48 years. I don't think on the day they went out to murder people." | |
| He said the murders happened "in the heat of the moment". | |
| Parole board 'satisfied' | |
| A Ministry of Justice (MoJ) spokesperson said it did not comment on individual cases. | A Ministry of Justice (MoJ) spokesperson said it did not comment on individual cases. |
| An MoJ spokesman said: "The release of life sentence prisoners is directed by the independent Parole Board once they are satisfied they can be safely managed in the community. | An MoJ spokesman said: "The release of life sentence prisoners is directed by the independent Parole Board once they are satisfied they can be safely managed in the community. |
| "Once released they are subject to strict controls for as long as their risk requires them. If they fail to comply with these conditions they can be immediately returned to prison. Offenders managed through Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (Mappa) are monitored and supervised by probation, police and other agencies." | "Once released they are subject to strict controls for as long as their risk requires them. If they fail to comply with these conditions they can be immediately returned to prison. Offenders managed through Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (Mappa) are monitored and supervised by probation, police and other agencies." |
| In May, Justice Minister Chris Grayling announced plans to change the law so that the killers of police or prison officers would face whole-life prison terms. | In May, Justice Minister Chris Grayling announced plans to change the law so that the killers of police or prison officers would face whole-life prison terms. |
| "It is essential that police and prison officers feel the full weight of the state is behind them as they fulfil their crucial duties," he said. | "It is essential that police and prison officers feel the full weight of the state is behind them as they fulfil their crucial duties," he said. |