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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Police killer Harry Roberts to be freed | Police killer Harry Roberts to be freed |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Police killer Harry Roberts is to be released from prison after more than 45 years. | Police killer Harry Roberts is to be released from prison after more than 45 years. |
| Roberts, 78, was jailed for life for murdering three unarmed officers in Shepherd's Bush, west London, in 1966. | 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 they had pulled over a van containing Roberts and two others, after an armed robbery. | They were shot in front of children playing in a street after they had pulled over a van containing Roberts and two others, after an armed robbery. |
| 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. |
| However, our correspondent said it was not yet clear when this would take place, and it is understood there will be strict conditions. | However, our correspondent said it was not yet clear when this would take place, and it is understood there will be strict conditions. |
| Wormwood Scrubs | Wormwood Scrubs |
| The murders of PC Geoffrey Fox, 41; Sgt Christopher Head, 30; and Det Con David Wombwell, 25; became one of the most infamous crimes of the 1960s, causing public outrage. | |
| 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. |
| Roberts was given three life sentences for the murders. A 30-year minimum term was recommended by the trial judge, who said the crimes were so heinous that he might never be freed. | Roberts was given three life sentences for the murders. A 30-year minimum term was recommended by the trial judge, who said the crimes were so heinous that he might never be freed. |
| BBC correspondent Danny Shaw said that the test applied by the Parole Board was whether the prisoner continued to pose a significant risk of serious harm. | BBC correspondent Danny Shaw said that the test applied by the Parole Board was whether the prisoner continued 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," our correspondent said. | "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," our correspondent said. |
| 'Safely managed' | 'Safely managed' |
| Roberts had been held in a low-security prison near Newton Abbot, Devon. | Roberts had been held in a low-security prison near Newton Abbot, Devon. |
| 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." |