HC Deb 01 February 1996 vol 270 cc871-2W
Ms Coffey

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy on informing the families of victims of manslaughter and murder of the release of offenders. [13003]

Mr. Sackville

Our policy is as set out in the 1995 national standards for the supervision of offenders before and after release from custody, a copy of which is in the Library. In such cases, the probation service should arrange for the victim's family to be contacted within two months of the imposition of the sentence and offered the opportunity of being kept informed of developments. Where this opportunity is taken up, the service should inform them when release from custody is imminent.