COVID-19: Govt encourages Britons to 'holiday at home' and enjoy 'great places' in UK while avoiding foreign travel - Sky News

People should holiday at home this year and not travel abroad unless absolutely necessary, George Eustice has said.

Hopes of a summer trip overseas were dashed as the environment secretary told Sky News his advice to the British public "would be holiday at home", adding that he himself will not be travelling abroad this summer.

Mr Eustice encouraged Britons to visit the "great places" that exist in the UK instead.

Live COVID updates from the UK and around the world

Image: People should holiday at home this year due to 'risks' with international travel, George Eustice says

He added that people must be aware of the "risks" in travelling outside of the UK at present, demonstrated by holiday hotspot Portugal being removed from the government's green list last week.

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"I will be staying at home. I have no intention of travelling or going on a holiday abroad this summer," he said.

More on Covid-19

"Some people may, but they have to understand that there are obviously risks in doing so because it is a dynamic situation.

"But I think most people will probably decide this year to stay at home, holiday at home."

Asked whether he is advising people to stay in the UK, Mr Eustice added: "I think, my advice to people would be holiday at home.

"We've got some great places here, there aren't many places that are on that list.

"But obviously some people will want to travel abroad. There are still a small number of countries on that green list. If they want to do that they can, but obviously they will have to understand there are risks in doing so as well."

Image: George Eustice said there are 'great places' to visit in the UK without having to travel abroad

Official government guidance states that ministers "continue to advise against all non-essential travel to some countries and territories" - but not all.

The government's website adds: "The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect international travel.

"No travel is risk-free, and many countries have closed their borders or restricted entry to UK travellers.

"Any country may further restrict travel or bring in new rules at short notice, for example due to a new COVID-19 variant."

It comes a week after the government announced no new countries were being added to the UK's green travel list while the popular destination of Portugal moved to amber.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps described the change, which came into effect from 4am this morning, as "a difficult decision".

Image: Passengers rushed back to the UK from Portugal last night before Tuesday's 4am quarantine deadline

Travellers returning from Portugal, or any other amber list country, will have to quarantine at home following the review of the government's travel traffic light system.

Many holidaymakers rushed home overnight to beat the quarantine deadline.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said the measures exist "to safeguard public health against variants of concern and protect our vaccine rollout".

Meanwhile, Mr Eustice added that it is "too early" to say whether the further relaxation of restrictions can go ahead on 21 June as planned.

"We don't rule anything out," the environment secretary said.

But Conservative MP and chairman of the Health and Social Care Select Committee Jeremy Hunt said he is optimistic that restrictions will be lifted "before the summer break", adding that he has a family holiday to Italy booked.

"As far as the summer is concerned, I'm still an optimist. I have got a family holiday booked in Italy, but I also got it with those easyJet tickets that you can change the date at no extra cost.

"So, I'm fully prepared to do that if that's what we have to do," the former cabinet minister told Sky News.

He added: "I am quite optimistic that we will have freedom day before the summer break and… because we know that two jabs is effective against the Delta-Indian variant.

"If it does get put back from June 21, my own hunch is that there will be a matter of weeks rather than anything that will really interrupt people's plans for the summer."

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2021-06-08 07:51:42Z
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Will foreign aid cuts damage Boris Johnson's vision for 'Global Britain'? - BBC Newsnight - BBC News

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2021-06-07 23:12:55Z
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Colin Pitchfork: Double schoolgirl murderer can be released - BBC News

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A double child killer who was the first murderer to be convicted using DNA evidence can be released, the Parole Board has confirmed.

Colin Pitchfork, 61, was jailed for life for raping and murdering 15-year-olds Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth in Leicestershire in the 1980s.

Pitchfork has spent 33 years in prison - he was last denied parole in 2018.

The Parole Board said it was satisfied Pitchfork was suitable for release, which is subject to conditions.

"Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority," a Parole Board spokesman said.

The decision is provisional for 21 days, the spokesman added.

Family handout

In a document explaining its decision, the Parole Board said at the time of the offences, Pitchfork had been someone who thought "about sex a lot" and used "violence and excessive force" and "sex to demonstrate power and control over women".

He also struggled to cope with anger, loneliness and had a willingness to "seek revenge".

But in prison, the Parole Board said he had taken part in several courses to address his behaviour and the panel heard Pitchfork's "behaviour in custody had been positive and had included extensive efforts to help others", including learning skills to help disabled people.

The panel concluded: "After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made while in custody and the evidence presented at the hearing, the panel was satisfied that Mr Pitchfork was suitable for release."

'Immoral, wrong and dangerous'

A source close to Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said the government would take legal advice to explore the use of the "reconsideration mechanism".

The Parole Board Reconsideration Mechanism, introduced in 2019, gives people the right to ask for a decision to be looked at again if they believe it was "procedurally unfair" or "irrational".

South Leicestershire MP Alberto Costa, who had met with the Parole Board over Pitchfork's case, told the BBC he was "appalled" at the news.

"Even though some 30 years have passed, this isn't the sort of crime one can ever forget," he said.

"My constituents remember the victims, people who went to school with these victims.

"It would be immoral, wrong and frankly dangerous to release this disgraceful murderer of two children."

• Latest news and stories from the East Midlands

He added he would be lobbying Mr Buckland to block the release.

"I will work my socks off to make sure [the decision] is reconsidered and he is kept behind bars," he said.

Speaking to the BBC when Pitchfork was last denied parole, Lynda's mother Kath Eastwood said: "The Parole Board have made the right decision [and] put the families of the victims first and listened to us before the murderer.

"Let us hope this continues."

When Colin Pitchfork was given a life sentence, it came with a minimum term that he had to serve behind bars as punishment, before he could ask experts to review whether he would be safe for release on what's known as a "licence".

That's a set of controls on his movements and activities that he must abide by for the rest of his days.

If he breaks any of the 35 conditions, he can be immediately taken back to jail - and so his life sentence hangs over him forever.

Only a tiny fraction of offenders are subject to a "whole life" order, because the system acknowledges many offenders may become less dangerous as they respond to rehabilitation programmes over the years.

The judges and other experts who make up the Parole Board can only authorise a lifer's release on licence if the evidence shows that it is no longer necessary to hold the offender in prison for public protection.

The families can petition the Justice Secretary Robert Buckland to ask the Parole Board to think again - but a review would have to show that it would be irrational to release Pitchfork on the available evidence. Mr Buckland cannot overturn the decision because of political or media pressure. But Parliament can change the law. MPs will get the chance to do so when they vote on a government proposal that future premeditated child killers are considered for whole life terms when they are convicted and sentenced.

Colin Pitchfork: Two brutal murders

• Colin Pitchfork, 22 at the time of the first murder, was married with two sons. He was a baker who grew up in rural Leicestershire and lived in Littlethorpe
• In November 1983 he left his baby son sleeping in the back of his car and raped and strangled 15-year-old Lynda Mann in Narborough. He then drove home and put his son to bed
• Three years later, less than a mile from where Lynda died, he raped and murdered Dawn Ashworth, also 15, of Enderby. The pathologist who examined her body described it as a "brutal sexual assault"
• A police investigation initially led to the wrong man, a local 17-year-old who falsely confessed to one of the killings. After an unprecedented mass screening of 5,000 men using pioneering "DNA profiling" technology, Pitchfork was eventually caught. At first, Pitchfork had evaded justice by persuading a colleague to take the test for him
• He pleaded guilty to both murders in September 1987 and was sentenced to life in January 1988. The judge said the killings were "particularly sadistic" and he doubted Pitchfork would ever be released
• In 2009, his 30-year life tariff was reduced by two years for "exceptional progress" - a decision that was strongly criticised by the families of his victims
• He was moved to an undisclosed open prison at some point prior to 8 January 2017, after his request for release

Pitchfork's parole hearing was held via video link on 22 March and included evidence from his probation office and a prison service psychologist.

The board then considered the evidence along with an examination of the "robustness" of the risk management plan before concluding its review on 25 May.

The decision to direct Pitchfork's release was published on Monday.

His release is subject to a number of licence conditions.

These include living at a designated address, taking part in probation supervision, wearing an electronic tag, taking part in lie detector tests and having to disclose what vehicles he uses and who he speaks to, with particular limits on contact with children.

He will also be subject to a curfew, have restrictions on using technology and limits on where he can go.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said: "We understand this will be an extremely upsetting decision for the families of Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth and our heartfelt sympathies remain with them.

"If Colin Pitchfork is released, he will be closely supervised by the probation service for the rest of his life and can be brought back to prison if he breaks the strict conditions he will be subject to."

Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk.

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• Parole Board

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2021-06-07 17:09:52Z
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Boris Johnson narrowly avoids immediate Conservative rebellion over foreign aid budget cuts - Sky News

Boris Johnson has narrowly avoided a rebellion by some of his own Conservative Party MPs over cuts to the foreign aid budget.

Thirty Tories, including former prime minister Theresa May and four other cabinet ministers, had backed a rebellion against the £4bn reduction and had hoped to force a vote on the matter.

But Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle ruled the amendment, proposed by Conservative former minister Andrew Mitchell, was "not in scope" of the Advanced Research and Innovation Agency Bill.

Image: Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle did not select the Conservative rebels' amendment

Noting that MPs have not had a chance to debate the matter, Sir Lindsay did however say he will accept applications for an emergency debate on the matter today, which would be held on Tuesday if successful.

If any application made by a backbench MP for an emergency debate on the reduction of the international aid budget were to be successful, any vote at the end of it would not be binding.

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The proposed amendment intended to make the government commit to reinstating the 0.7% target from next year - from the funding for this agency if it is not met through alternative means.

Under parliamentary procedure, Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle gets to decide whether to select amendments and allow votes on them based on the advice of his clerks.

More on Boris Johnson

Responding to Sir Lindsay's decision not to select the rebels' amendment, Mr Mitchell accused the government front bench of "treating the House of Commons with disrespect".

He added that "hundreds of thousands of avoidable deaths will result".

Britain's aid spending was cut by the chancellor last November in what was intended to be a temporary move, but without a vote in parliament.

Image: Conservative chief rebel accused the government front bench of treating the House of Commons 'with disrespect'

Mr Sunak told MPs at the time that keeping it at the higher level "cannot be justified to the British people".

Explaining his decision in the Commons, Sir Lindsay said: "Amendments and new clauses which are not within the scope of the Bill are out of order."

He added: "In this instance, having taken advice from the House's senior clerks and the officer of Speaker's counsel, I have deemed that new clause four to be outside of the scope of the Bill.

"New clause four is therefore not selected and may not be debated today."

Sir Lindsay said he would accept applications from MPs for an emergency debate on the matter as "the House has not had an opportunity for a decisive vote on maintaining the UK's commitment to the statutory target of 0.7%".

The Commons Speaker continued: "I expect that the Government should find a way to have this important matter debated and allow the House to formally take an effective decision.

Image: Andrew Mitchell said hundreds of thousands of deaths will result due to the government's decision to cut foreign aid

"I should say, on an exceptional basis, I will consider whether to hear any standing order number 24 applications by 5:30 today for debate to be held tomorrow."

Conservative Mr Mitchell told the Commons he believes his amendment would have passed if it had been selected by the Speaker.

"The government front bench are treating the House of Commons with disrespect. They are avoiding a vote on the commitments that each of us made individually and collectively at the last general; election on a promise made internationally.

"And in the opinion of some of the Britain's lawyers, the government is acting unlawfully.

Image: Conservative former minister David Davis said the cut to foreign aid 'doesn't make economic sense'

"Had we secured a vote on the new clause tonight, I can assure the House it would have secured the ascent of the House by not less than a majority of nine and probably of around 20 votes.

"In the week of the British chairmanship of the G7, the government's failure to address this issue will indisputably mean that hundreds of thousands of avoidable deaths will result."

Responding to Mr Mitchell, the Speaker said he hoped the Government will "take up the challenge and give this House its due respect that it deserves".

He told the Commons: "We are the elected members, this House should be taken seriously and the Government should be accountable here."

Earlier on Monday, Conservative former minister David Davis said the cut is "not necessary" and "doesn't make economic sense".

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Shadow Foreign Secretary Lisa Nandy says the Government is making a

He told Sky News: "I don't want to be a member of a government or a supporter of a government that is effectively deciding to lead to tens of thousands of deaths of small children."

Just under £10bn is to be allocated to departments for foreign aid spending in 2021-22, down from more than £14bn in 2019-20.

Labour have also called on the PM to change his mind on the matter, with shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy telling Sky News: "It is short-sighted, it is not in Britain's interest and he could solve this very, very quickly."

But Solicitor General Lucy Frazer defended the government's position on Monday morning, saying Britain was "the third largest donor globally in terms of international aid" last year.

Ms Frazer told Sky News: "But we are in the middle of a pandemic and it is really important that we support the effort here as well."

Polling last year suggested two-thirds of the public backed a cut to foreign aid, due to financial challenges at home.

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2021-06-07 15:22:30Z
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Colin Pitchfork: Double schoolgirl murderer can be released - BBC News

PA Media

A double child killer who was the first murderer to be convicted using DNA evidence can be released, the Parole Board has confirmed.

Colin Pitchfork, 61, was jailed for life for raping and murdering 15-year-olds Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth in Leicestershire in the 1980s.

Pitchfork has spent 33 years in prison - he was last denied parole in 2018.

The Parole Board said it was satisfied Pitchfork was suitable for release, which is subject to conditions.

"Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority," a Parole Board spokesman said.

The decision is provisional for 21 days, the spokesman added.

Family handout

In a document explaining its decision, the Parole Board said at the time of the offences, Pitchfork had been someone who thought "about sex a lot" and used "violence and excessive force" and "sex to demonstrate power and control over women".

He also struggled to cope with anger, loneliness and had a willingness to "seek revenge".

But in prison, the Parole Board said he had taken part in several courses to address his behaviour and the panel heard Pitchfork's "behaviour in custody had been positive and had included extensive efforts to help others", including learning skills to help disabled people.

The panel concluded: "After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made while in custody and the evidence presented at the hearing, the panel was satisfied that Mr Pitchfork was suitable for release."

'Immoral, wrong and dangerous'

A source close to Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said the government would take legal advice to explore the use of the "reconsideration mechanism".

The Parole Board Reconsideration Mechanism, introduced in 2019, gives people the right to ask for a decision to be looked at again if they believe it was "procedurally unfair" or "irrational".

South Leicestershire MP Alberto Costa, who had met with the Parole Board over Pitchfork's case, told the BBC he was "appalled" at the news.

"Even though some 30 years have passed, this isn't the sort of crime one can ever forget," he said.

"My constituents remember the victims, people who went to school with these victims.

"It would be immoral, wrong and frankly dangerous to release this disgraceful murderer of two children."

• Latest news and stories from the East Midlands

He added he would be lobbying Mr Buckland to block the release.

"I will work my socks off to make sure [the decision] is reconsidered and he is kept behind bars," he said.

Speaking to the BBC when Pitchfork was last denied parole, Lynda's mother Kath Eastwood said: "The Parole Board have made the right decision [and] put the families of the victims first and listened to us before the murderer.

"Let us hope this continues."

When Colin Pitchfork was given a life sentence, it came with a minimum term that he had to serve behind bars as punishment, before he could ask experts to review whether he would be safe for release on what's known as a "licence".

That's a set of controls on his movements and activities that he must abide by for the rest of his days.

If he breaks any of the 35 conditions, he can be immediately taken back to jail - and so his life sentence hangs over him forever.

Only a tiny fraction of offenders are subject to a "whole life" order, because the system acknowledges many offenders may become less dangerous as they respond to rehabilitation programmes over the years.

The judges and other experts who make up the Parole Board can only authorise a lifer's release on licence if the evidence shows that it is no longer necessary to hold the offender in prison for public protection.

The families can petition the Justice Secretary Robert Buckland to ask the Parole Board to think again - but a review would have to show that it would be irrational to release Pitchfork on the available evidence. Mr Buckland cannot overturn the decision because of political or media pressure.

Colin Pitchfork: Two brutal murders

• Colin Pitchfork, 22 at the time of the first murder, was married with two sons. He was a baker who grew up in rural Leicestershire and lived in Littlethorpe
• In November 1983 he left his baby son sleeping in the back of his car and raped and strangled 15-year-old Lynda Mann in Narborough. He then drove home and put his son to bed
• Three years later, less than a mile from where Lynda died, he raped and murdered Dawn Ashworth, also 15, of Enderby. The pathologist who examined her body described it as a "brutal sexual assault"
• A police investigation initially led to the wrong man, a local 17-year-old who falsely confessed to one of the killings. After an unprecedented mass screening of 5,000 men using pioneering "DNA profiling" technology, Pitchfork was eventually caught. At first, Pitchfork had evaded justice by persuading a colleague to take the test for him
• He pleaded guilty to both murders in September 1987 and was sentenced to life in January 1988. The judge said the killings were "particularly sadistic" and he doubted Pitchfork would ever be released
• In 2009, his 30-year life tariff was reduced by two years for "exceptional progress" - a decision that was strongly criticised by the families of his victims
• He was moved to an undisclosed open prison at some point prior to 8 January 2017, after his request for release

Pitchfork's parole hearing was held via video link on 22 March and included evidence from his probation office and a prison service psychologist.

The board then considered the evidence along with an examination of the "robustness" of the risk management plan before concluding its review on 25 May.

The decision to direct Pitchfork's release was published on Monday.

His release is subject to a number of licence conditions.

These include living at a designated address, taking part in probation supervision, wearing an electronic tag, taking part in lie detector tests and having to disclose what vehicles he uses and who he speaks to, with particular limits on contact with children.

He will also be subject to a curfew, have restrictions on using technology and limits on where he can go.

Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk.

Related Internet Links

• Parole Board

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

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2021-06-07 13:57:08Z
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Boris Johnson narrowly avoids Conservative rebellion over foreign aid budget cuts - Sky News

Boris Johnson has narrowly avoided a rebellion by some of his own Conservative Party MPs over cuts to the foreign aid budget.

Thirty Tories, including former prime minister Theresa May and four other cabinet ministers, had backed a rebellion against the £4bn reduction and had hoped to force a vote on the matter.

But Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle ruled the amendment, proposed by Conservative former minister Andrew Mitchell, was "not in scope" of the Advanced Research and Innovation Agency Bill.

Image: Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle did not select the Conservative rebels' amendment

Noting that MPs have not had a chance to debate the matter, Sir Lindsay did however say he will accept applications for an emergency debate on the matter today, which would be held on Tuesday if successful.

If any application made by a backbench MP for an emergency debate on the reduction of the international aid budget were to be successful, any vote at the end of it would not be binding.

Advertisement

The proposed amendment intended to make the government commit to reinstating the 0.7% target from next year - from the funding for this agency if it is not met through alternative means.

Under parliamentary procedure, Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle gets to decide whether to select amendments and allow votes on them based on the advice of his clerks.

More on Boris Johnson

Responding to Sir Lindsay's decision not to select the rebels' amendment, Mr Mitchell accused the government front bench of "treating the House of Commons with disrespect".

He added that "hundreds of thousands of avoidable deaths will result".

Britain's aid spending was cut by the chancellor last November in what was intended to be a temporary move, but without a vote in parliament.

Image: Conservative chief rebel accused the government front bench of treating the House of Commons 'with disrespect'

Mr Sunak told MPs at the time that keeping it at the higher level "cannot be justified to the British people".

Explaining his decision in the Commons, Sir Lindsay said: "Amendments and new clauses which are not within the scope of the Bill are out of order."

He added: "In this instance, having taken advice from the House's senior clerks and the officer of Speaker's counsel, I have deemed that new clause four to be outside of the scope of the Bill.

"New clause four is therefore not selected and may not be debated today."

Sir Lindsay said he would accept applications from MPs for an emergency debate on the matter as "the House has not had an opportunity for a decisive vote on maintaining the UK's commitment to the statutory target of 0.7%".

The Commons Speaker continued: "I expect that the Government should find a way to have this important matter debated and allow the House to formally take an effective decision.

Image: Andrew Mitchell said hundreds of thousands of deaths will result due to the government's decision to cut foreign aid

"I should say, on an exceptional basis, I will consider whether to hear any standing order number 24 applications by 5:30 today for debate to be held tomorrow."

Conservative Mr Mitchell told the Commons he believes his amendment would have passed if it had been selected by the Speaker.

"The government front bench are treating the House of Commons with disrespect. They are avoiding a vote on the commitments that each of us made individually and collectively at the last general; election on a promise made internationally.

"And in the opinion of some of the Britain's lawyers, the government is acting unlawfully.

Image: Conservative former minister David Davis said the cut to foreign aid 'doesn't make economic sense'

"Had we secured a vote on the new clause tonight, I can assure the House it would have secured the ascent of the House by not less than a majority of nine and probably of around 20 votes.

"In the week of the British chairmanship of the G7, the government's failure to address this issue will indisputably mean that hundreds of thousands of avoidable deaths will result."

Responding to Mr Mitchell, the Speaker said he hoped the Government will "take up the challenge and give this House its due respect that it deserves".

He told the Commons: "We are the elected members, this House should be taken seriously and the Government should be accountable here."

Earlier on Monday, Conservative former minister David Davis said the cut is "not necessary" and "doesn't make economic sense".

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Shadow Foreign Secretary Lisa Nandy says the Government is making a

He told Sky News: "I don't want to be a member of a government or a supporter of a government that is effectively deciding to lead to tens of thousands of deaths of small children."

Just under £10bn is to be allocated to departments for foreign aid spending in 2021-22, down from more than £14bn in 2019-20.

Labour have also called on the PM to change his mind on the matter, with shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy telling Sky News: "It is short-sighted, it is not in Britain's interest and he could solve this very, very quickly."

But Solicitor General Lucy Frazer defended the government's position on Monday morning, saying Britain was "the third largest donor globally in terms of international aid" last year.

Ms Frazer told Sky News: "But we are in the middle of a pandemic and it is really important that we support the effort here as well."

Polling last year suggested two-thirds of the public backed a cut to foreign aid, due to financial challenges at home.

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2021-06-07 15:00:00Z
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Colin Pitchfork: Double schoolgirl murderer can be released - BBC News

PA Media

A double child killer who was the first murderer to be convicted using DNA evidence can be released, the Parole Board has confirmed.

Colin Pitchfork, 61, was jailed for life for raping and murdering 15-year-olds Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth in Leicestershire in the 1980s.

Pitchfork has spent 33 years in prison - he was last denied parole in 2018.

The Parole Board said it was satisfied Pitchfork was suitable for release, which is subject to conditions.

"We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board has directed the release of Colin Pitchfork following an oral hearing," a Parole Board spokesman said.

"Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority."

The decision is provisional for 21 days, the spokesman added.

'Positive behaviour'

In a document explaining its decision, the Parole Board said at the time of the offences, Pitchfork had been someone who thought "about sex a lot" and used "violence and excessive force" and "sex to demonstrate power and control over women".

He also struggled to cope with anger, loneliness and had a willingness to "seek revenge".

But in prison, the Parole Board said he had taken part in several courses to address his behaviour and the panel heard Pitchfork's "behaviour in custody had been positive and had included extensive efforts to help others", including learning skills to help disabled people.

The panel concluded: "After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made while in custody and the evidence presented at the hearing, the panel was satisfied that Mr Pitchfork was suitable for release."

Colin Pitchfork: Two brutal murders

• Colin Pitchfork, 22 at the time of the first murder, was married with two sons. He was a baker who grew up in rural Leicestershire and lived in Littlethorpe
• In November 1983 he left his baby son sleeping in the back of his car and raped and strangled 15-year-old Lynda Mann in Narborough. He then drove home and put his son to bed
• Three years later, less than a mile from where Lynda died, he raped and murdered Dawn Ashworth, also 15, of Enderby. The pathologist who examined her body described it as a "brutal sexual assault"
• A police investigation initially led to the wrong man, a local 17-year-old who falsely confessed to one of the killings. After an unprecedented mass screening of 5,000 men using pioneering "DNA profiling" technology, Pitchfork was eventually caught. At first, Pitchfork had evaded justice by persuading a colleague to take the test for him
• He pleaded guilty to both murders in September 1987 and was sentenced to life in January 1988. The judge said the killings were "particularly sadistic" and he doubted Pitchfork would ever be released
• In 2009, his 30-year life tariff was reduced by two years for "exceptional progress" - a decision that was strongly criticised by the families of his victims
• He was moved to an undisclosed open prison at some point prior to 8 January 2017, after his request for release

A source close to Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said the government would take legal advice to explore the use of the "reconsideration mechanism".

The Parole Board Reconsideration Mechanism, introduced in 2019, gives people the right to ask for a decision to be looked at again if they believe it was "procedurally unfair" or "irrational".

'Immoral, wrong and dangerous'

South Leicestershire MP Alberto Costa, who had met with the Parole Board over Pitchfork's case, told the BBC he was "appalled" at the news.

"Even though some 30 years have passed, this isn't the sort of crime one can ever forget," he said.

"My constituents remember the victims, people who went to school with these victims.

"It would be immoral, wrong and frankly dangerous to release this disgraceful murderer of two children."

Speaking to the BBC when Pitchfork was last denied parole, Lynda's mother Kath Eastwood said: "The Parole Board have made the right decision [and] put the families of the victims first and listened to us before the murderer.

"Let us hope this continues."

• Latest news and stories from the East Midlands

Pitchfork's parole hearing was held via video link on 22 March and included evidence from his probation office and a prison service psychologist.

The board then considered the evidence along with an examination of the "robustness" of the risk management plan before concluding its review on 25 May.

His release is subject to a number of licence conditions.

These include living at a designated address, taking part in probation supervision, wearing an electronic tag, taking part in lie detector tests and having to disclose what vehicles he uses and who he speaks to, with particular limits on contact with children.

He will also be subject to a curfew, have restrictions on using technology and limits on where he can go.

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2021-06-07 12:17:27Z
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