Victims of crime are being failed

Nothing brought home to me more vividly the extent to which society fails victim than a recent Government report on how dangerous criminals, who have breached the conditions of their release, are spared being sent back to prison.

By The Newsroom

Published 2nd Oct 2018, 11:23 BST

Updated 2nd Oct 2018, 11:27 BST

These offenders include murderers, yet officials are being told to bend over backwards to avoid sending them back to jail to keep the prison population down.

I would have thought the Government would have learned its lesson about being soft on criminals with the case it highlighted.

Simon Mellors had served 12 years for killing his partner, and on release began stalking another woman, Janet Scott, who had told his probation officer he had threatened to kill her. But Mellors was not recalled to prison and killed Janet Scott.

I am sure I am joined by thousands of victims in thinking we let criminals get off too lightly, while those they harm often receive little help or consolation. It’s time that changed.

Scott Andrews

Government