HC Deb 24 February 1994 vol 238 c313W
Mr. Shersby

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the reasons for his decision to recall to custody Anthony Jeffs following his release on licence after serving 20 years of a life sentence for the murder of PC Peter Guthrie in 1972; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

On 31 January 1994, the Secretary of State exercised his power under section 39(2) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991, to revoke the life licence of Anthony Charles Jeffs and recall him to prison. This decision was taken in the light of information received from the probation service responsible for Mr. Jeffs' supervision in the community under the terms of his life licence. That information gave rise to concern about the risk Mr. Jeffs might pose to others, although there was nothing to indicate that he had committed any criminal offence since his release from prison on life licence on 3 September 1993.