§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners serving life sentences on 31st December 1972 had been in prison in excess of nine years and in excess of 12 years; what are the comparable figures at the same date in 1969, 1970 and 1971: and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. R. CarrThe figures are given in the following table:
Served more than 9 years Served more than 12 years 1969 … … 59 17 1970 … … 71 22 1971 … … 85 27 1972 … … 103 30 It is still little more than seven years since the passage of the Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act 1965, and the expectation must be that the number of life sentence prisoners who have served very long terms will continue to increase. Because of the overriding need to protect the public there are some who may never be released.
§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what are the procedures which must be followed before a person serving a sentence of life imprisonment for murder can be released from prison;
(2) whether he will give an assurance that a prisoner serving a life sentence for 265W murder is not automatically released after a particular length of time in prison.
§ Mr. R. CarrUnder the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1967, I may release a life sentence prisoner only if recommended to do so by the Parole Board and after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice and the trial judge, if he is available. Full account is taken of comprehensive reports on the offence and the offender, and of the views of the local review committee at the prison. There is no question of automatic release for a life sentence prisoner, of whatever offence he has been convicted, merely because a certain number of years have elapsed. No such prisoner is released until it is considered safe to release him, and he then remains liable, throughout his life, to be recalled to prison.