Judge-led hearings, open to the public, should be held to reconsider Parole Board decisions on the release of prisoners, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has proposed.
The proposal would make it easier to challenge the release of dangerous prisoners. Currently, the only route of challenge to controversial decisions—such as that to release serial rapist John Worboys despite the fears of his many victims—is judicial review. However, the MoJ launched a consultation last week, Reconsideration of Parole Board decisions: creating a new and open system, on a judge-led review process that would operate within the Parole Board’s current structures but be ‘properly protected and distinct’.
The consultation states: ‘This will allow changes to be made quickly and bring about meaningful change. An external review mechanism would require primary legislation.’
The proposals are the direct result of an urgent government review into the policy and procedures of Parole Board decisions, which began in January 2018.
Welcoming the proposal, Martin Jones, chief executive of the Parole Board, said: ‘We agree that there is scope for further changes to the Rules to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the parole process and we will be working closely with the MoJ to make appropriate changes.’
In March, Lord Chancellor David Gauke promised to bring forward proposals to allow Parole Board decision to be challenged, and to remove a blanket ban on disclosure of information about the decisions, in March. This followed the case of R (on the application of DSD, Mayor of London & Ors) v the Parole Board [2018] EWHC 694 (Admin), where the High Court quashed the decision to release Worboys and held that the ban was unlawful.
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