Extract from second reading debate (Commons) of the Prisoners (Disclosure of Information About Victims) Bill - Feb 11
Wednesday, 12 February 2020 08:02
Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East) (Con): With all his experience in
this tragic case, does the hon. Gentleman believe that the fault
lay with inadequate powers for the Parole Board, in that they felt
that they had no option, or did the Parole Board have the power not
to release Vanessa George and choose not to exercise that power, in
which case there is something terribly wrong with the recruitment
practices for membership of the Parole Board? Luke Pollard
(Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)...Request free trial
(New Forest East) (Con):
With all his experience in this tragic case, does the hon.
Gentleman believe that the fault lay with inadequate powers for the
Parole Board, in that they felt that they had no option, or did the
Parole Board have the power not to release Vanessa George and
choose not to exercise that power, in which case there is something
terribly wrong with the recruitment practices for membership of the
Parole Board?
(Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
(Lab/Co-op):...The right hon. Gentleman makes a very good point. I
would not wish to sit on a Parole Board for all the money in the
world. It must be an incredibly difficult decision to choose
whether or not to keep what are in many cases very serious
offenders behind bars. As regards Vanessa George, I think the
Parole Board had no choice but to release her, and that is why this
change of law is so essential. Indeed, initially I called on the
Secretary of State to reopen the investigation to ensure that no
stone was left unturned, and no charge was missed that could be put
against her to try to keep her behind bars. The dedication and
professionalism of Devon and Cornwall Police in
reopening the file and ensuring that nothing was left in it showed
that the system had done as much as it could do, which is why a
change in the law is absolutely necessary in ensuring that we can
keep someone like Vanessa George behind bars...
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