Victims of crime banned from having a say on when attackers can go free

By
Jack Doyle and Chris Greenwood

Last updated at 11:44 PM on 10th January 2012

Victims of horrific crimes are being told it is wrong for them to comment in their impact statements on whether their attacker should be let out of jail.

Every year tens of thousands of murderers, rapists and other violent and sexual offenders come before the Parole Board to be considered for release from prison.

Victims or, in the case of murder, their relatives, are allowed to write a personal statement on how the crime has affected them.

Angry: Josephine and Douglas Manwaring had a letter appealing against Merek Thorun's parole censored before it was presented to the probation service

Angry: Josephine and Douglas Manwaring had a letter appealing against Merek Thorun’s parole censored before it was presented to the probation service

But government officials have said they ‘should not offer a view on whether the offender should be released’.

The move by the Ministry of Justice – which critics said was ‘ludicrous’ – came after a woman who asked for her daughter’s murderer to be kept behind bars had parts of her Parole Board letter crossed out by officials.

Josephine Manwaring, 68, had called for schizophrenic Merek Thorun to be left to ‘rot in prison’ when he sought for the fifth time to be released.

She said German-born Thorun had shown no remorse for the brutal killing of her 25-year-old daughter Michelle and should never again enjoy his freedom.

how Damilola's father was ignored.jpg

how Damilola’s father was ignored.jpg

But a probation official – known as a victim liaison officer (VLO) – crossed out the line which said: ‘He should never ever be allowed freedom out of jail to be able to do it again, he should rot in prison.’

Another line which said: ‘He may have bars on his windows where we don’t, but we suffer a lot more than he does’ was also crossed out.

Thorun was jailed for life in 1992 after bludgeoning girlfriend Michelle to death with a hammer as she lay in bed.

Edited: The letter the Manwarings wrote for the parole hearing, complete with correction marks by the probation service

Edited: The letter the Manwarings wrote for the parole hearing, complete with correction marks by the probation service

Mrs Manwaring, from Southport, Merseyside, said she felt robbed of the right to speak her mind when the letter came back with comments crossed out.

Outraged: Philip Davies says the views of victims should be absolutely paramount in these situations

Outraged: Philip Davies says the views of victims should be absolutely paramount in these situations

A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: ‘A VLO will always advise victims and their families on how best to write their impact statement so they can clearly express their views to the Parole Board in the most effective way.

‘The VLO will explain the purpose of a personal statement is to make clear the ongoing impact of the crime.’

But he added: ‘It is also their responsibility to explain that the  personal statement should not offer a view on whether the offender should be released.’

When making their decision, Parole Board officials must only consider whether an offender still poses a risk to the public.

But victims have never been told before their views on release are unwelcome. Critics said it was wrong to deny victims a voice.

Tory MP Philip Davies said: ‘It’s ludicrous for people to give victims a say over what happens to people who commit crimes against them, if what they say regarding the sentence is totally ignored. The views of victims should be absolutely paramount in these situations.’

Last night a spokesman for the Parole Board said it would not discourage victims from saying ‘anything they wish to say’.

And the Ministry of Justice appeared to soften its position.

A spokesman said: ‘While victims and their families are advised by their VLO that the sole purpose of their statement to the Parole Board is to express the ongoing impact the offender’s crime has had on their lives, they are always free to express an opinion about how long an offender should spend in prison.’

 

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One Response to “Victims of crime banned from having a say on when attackers can go free”

  1. Diana Manwaring says:

    Imo, victims should be able to say whatever they want in the “impact statements.” The Manwaring family was robbed of their right to freedom of speech.

    I live in the U.S. in upstate NY and am probably related to Josephine and Douglas Manwaring. My father’s family is from Britan. All I can say is, matters like this are handled differently in the states. I never heard of victim impact statements being censored here.

    Britain need to take a look at this policy and CHANGE it. Freedom of speech exists in the U.S. So it should in Britain.

    My thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. and Mrs. Manwaring, and others like them who are not allowed to speak their piece.

    Diana Manwaring
    Pulaski, New York

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