South Leicestershire MP, Alberto Costa, has welcomed proposals from the Secretary of State for Justice, The Rt. Hon David Gauke MP, designed to improve transparency in the Parole Board system and boost support for victims.
Following a review of the parole boards rules, these new changes offer more support for victims allowing them to use a new ‘reconsideration mechanism’ that will allow victims to ask the Ministry of Justice to formally review a Parole Board decision without the need for judicial review.
Alberto, who is a former member of the Justice Select Committee, has welcomed these reforms after the decision by the Parole Board last year to refuse the release of the notorious convicted child-killer Colin Pitchfork.
Alberto said, “I have been working very closely with my colleagues in the Justice Department such as the Prisons Minister and the Secretary of State for Justice on these changes and I am pleased they have been receptive to my calls for greater transparency and support for victims. I have constantly cited the case of Colin Pitchfork, whose crimes live long in the memory of my South Leicestershire constituents”.
Alberto concluded, “I am delighted these improvements have been put in place after the Consultation that took place last year, this will make the Parole Board’s deliberation process more open and transparent will improve the impact victims can have. These changes help strengthen the Parole system in the interest of public safety and will ultimately ensure that those who commit terrible crimes will never fall through the cracks in the criminal justice system”.
