Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 30 October 2022

HINCKLEY and Bosworth’s Tory MP, Dr. Luke Evans, has asked about the progress of reforms to the parole system with the Victims Minister in the House of Commons.

Dr. Evans raised the case of double child killer and rapist, Colin Pitchfork, who was released by the parole board last year (2021). He was put back behind bars last November after he had exhibited ‘worrying behaviour’ around young women.

Colin Pitchfork was arrested after raping and murdering two young girls. The fiend first struck in Narborough in November 1983, and a second time in Enderby in July 1986. He was the first person to be convicted of rape and murder using DNA profiling.

Dr. Luke has been working alongside South Leicestershire MP, Alberto Costa, to help secure a “comprehensive review” of the parole system since the prospect of releasing Pitchfork on conditional licence was first raised last year, in 2021.

Together, Dr. Luke and Mr. Costa have called for a ‘root and branch’ review of the parole system, which Dr. Luke believes has “failed the families of the victims and all those in our community”.

Now, the Minister of State for victims and vulnerability, Rachel Maclean MP, has promised to legislate for Government Ministers to block the release.

She said: “the public rightly want to know how this was allowed to happen. It is the Secretary of State’s intention to provide a review on suitability for release [ahead of the parole board’s review of Pitchfork’s suitability for release in the coming months].”

After asking his question in the Commons, Dr Luke Evans MP, said: “The decision for parole last year but residents across our region at considerable unease and showed clear areas for reform within the system.

“Such failure, particularly when it relates to the safety and wellbeing of children, cannot be allowed to happen again.

“I am pleased to hear the Government recommit to a wide-ranging review of the parole system and will be following their progress closely.”

Alberto Costa, MP for South Leicestershire, added: “I am most grateful to my constituency neighbour and friend, Dr Luke Evans MP, for once again raising the case of Colin Pitchfork with Justice Ministers.

“The prospect of Pitchfork’s release remains of huge concern to my constituents in South Leicestershire, where his heinous crimes took place, as well as those in Bosworth and the wider country.

“I have been working closely with the Government to reform our parole process and to ensure that dangerous killers such as Colin Pitchfork stay in prison.

“I am immensely appreciative to Luke for supporting these efforts and for his ongoing work to safeguard his constituents in Bosworth and mine in South Leicestershire.”