The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, today welcomed news that the Parole Board’s decision to release John Worboys has been quashed after a Judicial Review.
Earlier this year, the Mayor launched a Judicial Review of the decision to free Worboys from prison after serving less than 10 years for drugging and sexually assaulting female passengers, including one count of rape.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I welcome today’s decision, which will bring some reassurance to the victims of John Worboys and to all Londoners.
“My top priority as Mayor of London is to keep Londoners safe. I will always do everything within my power to keep them safe from harm. I was approached by one of his victims and I felt it was my duty to seek a Judicial Review into the Parole Board’s irrational decision.
“I am pleased that our representations were helpful in quashing the Parole Board’s decision and will help to maintain Londoners’ confidence in the criminal justice system.
“Regardless of today’s rulings, there needs to be an urgent overhaul of the way Parole Board decisions to release offenders are taken. The shocking failures in the way John Worboys’ victims were treated has damaged confidence in the criminal justice system and the time has come for more transparency surrounding decisions to let offenders out of prison”
Also this month, the Mayor published his new strategy to tackle violence against women and girls, and the misogynistic attitudes that allow these crimes to continue, backed by a record £44m investment up to 2020.
Sadiq wants to make London the safest city in the world for women and girls, and that means every Londoner and every organisation playing their part – including the Parole Board and the criminal justice system.
Notes to editors
The publication of the London Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, backed up by a record £44m investment up to 2020, was a commitment in the Mayor’s Police and Crime Plan. It is published here:https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/mayors-office-policing-and-crime-m…
The Chair of Parole Board invited a Judicial Review and has welcomed the scrutiny.
It was initially indicated that the Secretary of State for Justice would launch a Judicial Review into the Parole Board’s decision, but he subsequently decided not to do so.