‘Killers and other serious offenders could serve shorter sentences for good behaviour in a radical overhaul of sentencing to ease the prison capacity crisis, the justice secretary has signalled.’
The Independent, 28th March 2025
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘David Norris was jailed for life in 2012 after he had denied being part of the racist attack on 18-year-old Stephen, who was stabbed to death by a gang of young white men in Eltham, south London.’
BBC News, 21st March 2025
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The release of a killer convicted of carrying out the Essex Boys gangland murders is being blocked by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood.’
The Independent, 12th March 2025
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘A United Nations torture tsar has said British prisoners trapped on indefinite jail terms are probably “being detained arbitrarily” after The Independent revealed six in 10 are being blocked from moving to open jails.’
The Independent, 8th February 2025
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘The government has been urged to reconsider resentencing thousands of prisoners trapped under abolished indefinite jail terms.’
The Independent, 29th November 2024
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘The decision to release the man who brutally killed a young woman in a flat in Cardiff will not be reviewed, the Ministry of Justice has said. Jeffrey Gafoor, 59, is set to leave prison on parole after attempts to change the decision to release him failed.’
BBC News, 10th November 2024
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘On 28 October 2024, the Court of Appeal handed down its eagerly-awaited judgment in Oakley and Sneddon v Secretary of State for Justice, concerning the proper approach to cases where the Secretary of State rejects advice from the Parole Board to transfer prisoners to open prison conditions.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 4th November 2024
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
‘Around 1,800 rehabilitated offenders still under indefinite probation oversight for abolished Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences, years after completing their prison terms, will have this supervision lifted today (1 November 2024).’
Ministry of Justice, 1st November 2024
Source: www.gov.uk
‘The Parole Board has refused to overturn its direction to release a convicted murderer who stabbed a woman 60 times.’
BBC News, 22nd October 2024
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘A murderer at the centre of one of Wales’ most notorious killings will make his case to be freed from prison later.’
BBC News, 3rd October 2024
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The family of a woman killed by her ex-partner have had an appeal against his release refused.’
BBC News, 12th September 2024
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘A killer who stabbed a woman 60 times during sex has been cleared to be freed by the parole board.’
BBC News, 9th September 2024
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The family of a Leeds woman who was beaten to death by a man with a psychotic illness have said they are angry at the possibility he could be moved to an open prison.’
BBC News, 9th September 2024
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The mother of Baby P, who died after months of abuse, is back behind bars two years after being freed from jail.’
The Independent, 3rd September 2024
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘With an election taking place during the Euros, it is almost too tempting to describe the Labour Party as running towards an open goal. A new government is almost seen as inevitable, with the real question being the size of its majority. Yet it remains unclear whether this change will embolden much-needed reform to the criminal justice system. For any future Justice Secretary, addressing the plight of those serving sentences of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) must be at the top of their to-do list.’
Mountford Chambersm 1st July 2024
Source: www.mountfordchambers.com
‘A killer who stabbed a woman 60 times during sex will give evidence at his parole hearing in private, even though an application had been granted for it to be held in public.’
BBC News, 16th July 2024
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘It is not that often that first instance judges in judicial review claims disagree as to the approach to be taken in the context of a core question relating to judicial review. When it happens, administrative lawyers are bound to take notice. This has most recently occurred in the context of rationality challenges to decisions taken by the Secretary of State for Justice to reject Parole Board recommendations to release or transfer to open conditions. The most interesting aspect of this recent phenomenon is that the High Court has managed to hand down, on our count, 13 reported decisions over the last two years, before the Court of Appeal has had the opportunity to “resolve” the issue, although a hearing is currently listed before the Court of Appeal in appeals against two of these decisions in October 2024. In this piece, we seek to explain the current position, highlighting areas of agreement and disagreement between first instance judges, and which questions remain, as yet, unresolved.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 11th July 2024
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
‘The parole hearing for Colin Pitchfork, who was convicted of raping and murdering two teenagers, will no longer be held in public due to “unforeseeable developments including fresh allegations”.’
The Guardian, 11th July 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The man who arranged for the model and TV presenter Katie Piper to be attacked with acid could be eligible for parole next month.’
The Guardian, 30th June 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A second murder by a man who had killed before has been described as “horrific” but “rare” by the Probation Service.’
BBC News, 5th June 2024
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
© Inner Temple Library 2025