The Lord Chancellor has come under fire over the John Worboys issue for the second time since his appointment.
David Gauke refused to give his support this week to a call to ban Worboys, the taxi driver rapist who is due for release, from the Greater London area where some of his victims live.
Gauke told MPs that the ‘most stringent’ licensing conditions will be placed on the convicted rapist, but that ‘when it comes to the precise conditions those are operational matters that are decided at an operational level’.
Last week, Gauke was criticised for indicating that he was considering a judicial review of the Parole Board’s decision to release Worboys, before backtracking on the basis it would ‘not be appropriate’ for him to proceed. Meanwhile, the charity Centre for Women’s Justice is set to launch a judicial review this week. Harriet Wistrich, Birnberg Peirce partner, who is acting for the victims, said Gauke’s decision did not weaken their case because the Parole Board was the Ministry of Justice’s creation ‘and he cannot therefore challenge his own rules’.
Wistrich sent a letter before claim on the Centre’s behalf last week threatening judicial review on the basis that a blanket policy preventing publication of the Parole Board’s reasons is unlawful in a case where there is overriding public interest and widespread concern among the public; and the decision to release Worboys in light of all the known facts ‘appears to be wholly irrational’.
Gauke (pictured with entourage) was sworn in to his new role only last week.
