Parole: Complaints

(asked on 8th April 2019) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many complaints have been received from victims of serious crime in the last three years that they have not been consulted about parole decisions in respect of the person convicted of the crime.


Answered by
Lucy Frazer Portrait
Lucy Frazer
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
This question was answered on 16th April 2019

Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) does not hold information centrally about the number of complaints from victims of serious crime that they have not been able to exercise their rights with respect to the parole reviews for the offenders concerned, in line with the Victim Contact Scheme (VCS).

Complaints are investigated and dealt with locally by the Probation Service. The Probation Service takes complaints from victims extremely seriously and will always endeavour to resolve the complaint informally if possible, and to the victim’s satisfaction.

We are determined to drive up the performance of the VCS, which is for victims of the most serious sexual and violent crimes, where the offender receives a prison sentence of 12 months or more, or a hospital order. We are looking at how we can develop a more streamlined process to reduce the risk that eligible victims miss the chance to be offered the VCS.

We are also committed to improving the victim’s experience of parole reviews. Since May 2018, victims have been able to request a Parole Board decision summary, which explains how the panel reached its decision. Later this year, we will introduce a reconsideration mechanism, which will enable victims to request a reconsideration of a Parole Board decision, via the Secretary of State, if it appears to be seriously flawed.

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