David Gauke accepts ‘full responsibility’ for near release of black cab rapist John Worboys
2 min read
David Gauke has said the decision that almost saw serial rapist John Worboys released from prison was his “responsibility entirely” as he vowed ministers would learn from the case.
The Justice Secretary came under fire for refusing to contest a Parole Board decision to have Mr Worboys freed early, arguing lawyers had told him there was no "reasonable" chance of it succeeding.
A successful challenge was however launched by victims and the plans were overturned, prompting the sacking of Nick Hardwick, the chairman of the Parole Board.
Mr Gauke told the Sun on Sunday: “I felt it sensible to take advice from a top barrister and I interrogated that advice and concluded it was right I don’t take the action.”
“I was pleased it was successful and Worboys remains behind bars — I didn’t want Worboys released. My focus now is ensuring we learn the lessons from the case.
“There’s a lot of hard thinking we all need do to ensure we make the necessary changes and that’s where my focus is.”
Following the High Court’s verdict, ministers pledged to make it easier to reconsider decisions made by the Parole Board.
“We’re looking at all the rules. We must be sure with a particularly sensitive case we have people on the panel who can be sufficiently probing and ask tough questions,” Mr Gauke said.
“It’s perfectly obvious the Worboys case was a sensitive one. There was considerable concern over his possible release.
“He is also a highly manipulative individual and in those circumstances you’d expect a panel to be very rigorous in its analysis of the evidence.
“But it was disappointing, to put it mildly.”
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