Root and Branch Review of the Parole Board following Judicial Review Claims

23 October 2020

The government earlier this week announced a root and branch review of the parole system in England and Wales.

The review will examine, amongst other things, whether the Parole Board needs to be more visibly independent from the Ministry of Justice. This follows a claim brought by Paul Wakenshaw in 2018 after the forced resignation of the Parole Board Chair, Nick Hardwick in the wake of the John Worboys case.

The first stage of the review will involve and examination of the whether the media and wider public should have access to parole hearings. This follows a judicial review claim brought by Charles Salvador, formerly Bronson, who earlier this year was granted permission to challenge the lawfulness of Parole Board Rules which currently prevent such access.

Mr Worboys, Mr Wakenshaw and Mr Salvador were represented by Matthew Stanbury, instructed by Dean Kingham and Yasmin Karabasic of Swain & Co solicitors.