New Justice Secretary admits Brits have felt let down on crime as he vows to keep the most ‘heinous’ cons locked up
THE new Justice Secretary today admits Brits have felt let down on crime in the wake of the Colin Pitchfork and John Worboys cases.
Alex Chalk says confidence in the probation service “has been knocked” after it cleared the pair for release.
Both men are still behind bars after public outcries over their cases.
Mr Chalk will tomorrow unveil reforms in Parliament to beef up protections to ensure the most “heinous” cons stay locked up until they are safe to release.
Writing in The Sun on Sunday, Mr Chalk says Brits deserve to know that “depraved criminals” guilty of the worst crimes are kept in jail for as long as necessary.
He stresses: “Letting even one off-ender out of prison who is not safe to be out on the streets means they can go on to commit a violent or sexual crime, shattering lives in the process.”
Black cab rapist Worboys, 65, was jailed for attacking more than a dozen women.
Cops believe he may have had more than 100 victims.
He was cleared for release in 2018 but the decision was overturned by the courts after a furious public backlash.
Pitchfork, 63, raped and murdered two girls in the 1980s.
He was freed in June 2021 but was back in jail three months later for breaching the terms of his licence.
Mr Chalk says this shows he “was not safe to release”.
He adds: “In the cases of Worboys and Pitchfork, the public’s trust in the system took a hit.”
Mr Chalk’s Victims and Prisoners Bill will let ministers block the release of the most violent criminals, and make it clearer in law that cons must not be released if they pose a threat to the public.
It will also end the “ridiculous farce” of murderers sentenced to whole life orders — like Levi Bellfield — getting married behind bars.
Mr Chalk – a former barrister who prosecuted murderers and terrorists – vows: “Serial killers like Levi Bellfield robbed his victims of the chance to ever walk down the aisle.
“It is grotesque for victims’ families to think of killers enjoying their big day while in prison. So we are putting a stop to it.”
He adds: “I know there have been occasions in recent years when some Sun on Sunday readers will have wondered whose side the system is on.
“These reforms will help us answer those doubts.