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| Minister rejects call for in-depth inquiry into John Worboys case | Minister rejects call for in-depth inquiry into John Worboys case |
| (25 days later) | |
| The new justice secretary, David Gauke, has rejected calls for an “end-to-end inquiry” into the case of the serial sex attacker John Worboys, who is about to be released from prison. | The new justice secretary, David Gauke, has rejected calls for an “end-to-end inquiry” into the case of the serial sex attacker John Worboys, who is about to be released from prison. |
| But he backed proposals for greater transparency from the Parole Board in explaining why offenders are freed and how assessments of future risks are conducted. | But he backed proposals for greater transparency from the Parole Board in explaining why offenders are freed and how assessments of future risks are conducted. |
| Meanwhile, one of Worboys’ victims, who testified against him in his criminal trial, has said she feels “terrified” at the prospect of his release because she believes he knows where she and other victims live. | Meanwhile, one of Worboys’ victims, who testified against him in his criminal trial, has said she feels “terrified” at the prospect of his release because she believes he knows where she and other victims live. |
| Responding to Gauke’s comments, she said: “Worboys knows where I live. How do I know he’s not going to come after me? I’m terrified. Why wouldn’t I be? The most important thing now is that the Parole Board tell us how they came to this decision before he is released. | Responding to Gauke’s comments, she said: “Worboys knows where I live. How do I know he’s not going to come after me? I’m terrified. Why wouldn’t I be? The most important thing now is that the Parole Board tell us how they came to this decision before he is released. |
| “This man was a prolific sex attacker for five to 10 years, probably more. Some reports suggest he might have had hundreds of victims, while he dismissed his actions as ‘banter’. He showed no remorse. | “This man was a prolific sex attacker for five to 10 years, probably more. Some reports suggest he might have had hundreds of victims, while he dismissed his actions as ‘banter’. He showed no remorse. |
| “Reports also suggest that just two years ago he still believed he had done nothing wrong. How on earth can this man now be deemed safe? I was assured by the police that Worboys would never be released from prison as he would always pose a serious threat to women. What has changed?” | “Reports also suggest that just two years ago he still believed he had done nothing wrong. How on earth can this man now be deemed safe? I was assured by the police that Worboys would never be released from prison as he would always pose a serious threat to women. What has changed?” |
| She added: “The justice secretary has today suggested that the law could be changed retrospectively, which would allow us victims to be told why the Parole Board has made this decision. That must now happen as soon as possible. Until it does, we can have zero confidence that he won’t reoffend.” | She added: “The justice secretary has today suggested that the law could be changed retrospectively, which would allow us victims to be told why the Parole Board has made this decision. That must now happen as soon as possible. Until it does, we can have zero confidence that he won’t reoffend.” |
| Gauke said in a Commons statement that a review to be completed by Easter would be limited to how far the Parole Board can go in explaining its decisions about individual offenders and improving its relationship with victims. He said he doubted whether retrospective changes could be made. | Gauke said in a Commons statement that a review to be completed by Easter would be limited to how far the Parole Board can go in explaining its decisions about individual offenders and improving its relationship with victims. He said he doubted whether retrospective changes could be made. |
| He said one victim who had asked to be kept informed of Worboys’ release had not received an email that was sent out. He defended the board’s work, referring to the hundreds of pages of evidence it had considered in the Worboys case. He said Worboys’ crimes were “horrific”. | He said one victim who had asked to be kept informed of Worboys’ release had not received an email that was sent out. He defended the board’s work, referring to the hundreds of pages of evidence it had considered in the Worboys case. He said Worboys’ crimes were “horrific”. |
| The former black-cab driver was convicted in 2009 of one count of rape, five sexual assaults, one attempted assault and 12 drugging charges. | The former black-cab driver was convicted in 2009 of one count of rape, five sexual assaults, one attempted assault and 12 drugging charges. |
| Gauke said: “While it appears that the correct procedures were followed [by the Parole Board], the fact that some victims learned of the decision [to free Worboys] from the media suggests that there is a need to review these procedures and examine whether lessons can be learned and improvements can be made. | Gauke said: “While it appears that the correct procedures were followed [by the Parole Board], the fact that some victims learned of the decision [to free Worboys] from the media suggests that there is a need to review these procedures and examine whether lessons can be learned and improvements can be made. |
| “There is a strong case to review the case for transparency in the process for parole decisions and how victims are appropriately engaged in that process, and consider the case for changes in policy, practice or the Parole Board rules, or other guidance or procedures including the victims’ code.” | “There is a strong case to review the case for transparency in the process for parole decisions and how victims are appropriately engaged in that process, and consider the case for changes in policy, practice or the Parole Board rules, or other guidance or procedures including the victims’ code.” |
| Gauke rejected calls from Labour’s justice spokesman, Richard Burgon, for an “end-to-end review” of the Worboys case, including the way the initial police investigation and the prosecution were handled. | Gauke rejected calls from Labour’s justice spokesman, Richard Burgon, for an “end-to-end review” of the Worboys case, including the way the initial police investigation and the prosecution were handled. |
| “The public is asking questions about police failings and why there were no further prosecutions,” Burgon said. | “The public is asking questions about police failings and why there were no further prosecutions,” Burgon said. |
| He said the justice system had been subjected “to the greatest level of cuts” of any government department, and privatisation of the probation service, which is supposed to liaise with victims, had been left in a “chaotic” state. | He said the justice system had been subjected “to the greatest level of cuts” of any government department, and privatisation of the probation service, which is supposed to liaise with victims, had been left in a “chaotic” state. |
| Mike Penning, a former police minister, called for an investigation into why the Crown Prosecution Service had not pursued charges relating to complaints from other victims. | Mike Penning, a former police minister, called for an investigation into why the Crown Prosecution Service had not pursued charges relating to complaints from other victims. |
| The CPS later said in a statement: “Sentences can be imposed consecutively. However, following Worboys’s conviction after the trial, the judge imposed notional terms of 10 years for the offences of administering a substance (the maximum) and sexual assault, which were ordered to run concurrently to the notional sentences imposed in respect of the rape and assault by penetration of 16 years. | The CPS later said in a statement: “Sentences can be imposed consecutively. However, following Worboys’s conviction after the trial, the judge imposed notional terms of 10 years for the offences of administering a substance (the maximum) and sexual assault, which were ordered to run concurrently to the notional sentences imposed in respect of the rape and assault by penetration of 16 years. |
| “The defendant was made the subject of an IPP [Imprisonment for Public Protection sentence]. Accordingly, the CPS were of the view that in the absence of any further allegations of rape and assault by penetration (which carry a maximum penalty of life), it was unlikely that any further convictions would significantly alter the final notional sentence of 16 years, if at all.” | “The defendant was made the subject of an IPP [Imprisonment for Public Protection sentence]. Accordingly, the CPS were of the view that in the absence of any further allegations of rape and assault by penetration (which carry a maximum penalty of life), it was unlikely that any further convictions would significantly alter the final notional sentence of 16 years, if at all.” |
| The Metropolitan police has not received any fresh information relating to Worboys and is not currently investigating him. | The Metropolitan police has not received any fresh information relating to Worboys and is not currently investigating him. |
| A judicial review of the Parole Board’s decision to release Worboys could yet be launched by lawyers on behalf of his victims. Harriet Wistrich, a solicitor who represents two victims who have taken their claim for compensation over police failures to the supreme court, said this week: “We are looking at any way we can to challenge the decision on his release.” | A judicial review of the Parole Board’s decision to release Worboys could yet be launched by lawyers on behalf of his victims. Harriet Wistrich, a solicitor who represents two victims who have taken their claim for compensation over police failures to the supreme court, said this week: “We are looking at any way we can to challenge the decision on his release.” |
| The probation service has told victims that Worboys’ release licence will include a condition “not to approach or communicate, directly or indirectly, the victims … without prior approval of the supervising officer”. | The probation service has told victims that Worboys’ release licence will include a condition “not to approach or communicate, directly or indirectly, the victims … without prior approval of the supervising officer”. |
| It said his conditions would include reporting to a supervising offender manager every week, and he would be under supervision for at least 10 years. Any breach of the licence conditions could result in Worboys being recalled to prison. | It said his conditions would include reporting to a supervising offender manager every week, and he would be under supervision for at least 10 years. Any breach of the licence conditions could result in Worboys being recalled to prison. |