The Member of Parliament for Bosworth, Dr Luke Evans, has asked about the progress of reforms to the parole system with the Victims Minister in the House of Commons.
The local MP also raised the case of double child killer and rapist Colin Pitchfork, who was released by the parole board last year, prior to having his license revoked two months later after exhibiting ‘worrying behaviour’ around young women.
Dr Luke has been working alongside neighbouring South Leicestershire MP, Alberto Costa, to secure comprehensive review of the parole system since the prospect of releasing Pitchfork on conditional licence was first raised in 2021.
The MPs have both called for a “root and branch” review of the parole system, which Dr Luke said “failed the families of the victims and all those in our community” last year.
The Minister of State for victims and Vulnerability, Rachel Maclean MP, promised to legislate for Government Ministers to block release. Minister Maclean said “the public rightly want to know how this was allowed to happen. It is the Secretary of State’s intention to provide a review on suitability for release [ahead of the parole board’s review of Pitchfork’s suitability for release in the coming months].”
Speaking after his question in Parliament, Dr Luke Evans MP said “The decision for parole last year but residents across our region at considerable unease and showed clear areas for reform within the system. Such failure, particularly when it relates to the safety and wellbeing of children, cannot be allowed to happen again.
“I am pleased to hear the Government recommit to a wide-ranging review of the parole system and will be following their progress closely.”
Alberto Costa, MP for South Leicestershire, added “I am most grateful to my constituency neighbour and friend, Dr Luke Evans MP, for once again raising the case of Colin Pitchfork with Justice Ministers.
“The prospect of Pitchfork’s release remains of huge concern to my constituents in South Leicestershire, where his heinous crimes took place, as well as those in Bosworth and the wider country.
“I have been working closely with the Government to reform our parole process and to ensure that dangerous killers such as Colin Pitchfork stay in prison, and I am immensely appreciative to Luke for supporting these efforts and for his ongoing work to safeguard his constituents in Bosworth and mine in South Leicestershire.”
