Major Criminals To be Set Free In Secret

Thu, 18 June 2009 Courtesy of: The Sun Online

MPs will be gagged from revealing which killers, terrorists and paedophiles have been released into their communities.

Up to 95 violent and sexual offenders are due for release at the end of their sentences.

But the Government is rushing through a new data protection order to make sure nobody finds out who they are or where they will live.

MPs will get advance notice of the release of dangermen – but only if they sign a gagging order.

Choice

It leaves them with the stark choice of hiding the truth from the public or being kept in the dark themselves.

The ban covers prisoners jailed before new laws to keep violent or dangerous criminals behind bars were passed in 2005.

They include killers, thugs, terrorists, perverts, animal rights fanatics and other extremists.

MPs will be limited to discussing details with their local chief constable, head of probation or senior ministers.

But they must agree to destroy the information once they have read it and never to discuss it with the public.

Justice minister Maria Eagle has written to every MP demanding they sign a confidentiality agreement – adding that information will not be released to those who don't.

Tories accused ministers of treating the public with disdain.

Shadow justice secretary Dominic Grieve said: "The Government is trying to impose a blanket gag on MPs doing their job, in return for being kept informed of dangerous offenders released into their constituencies.

"At a time when the Government is releasing thousands of dangerous offenders early – having already undermined the probation service's ability to supervise them – this measure will further weaken public confidence."

The Ministry of Justice said new laws were needed to update a ten-year-old scheme to notify MPs.

A spokesman said: "MPs should not disclose specific details of the whereabouts and identities of individual offenders because doing so would compromise their management in the community and, ultimately, the safety of the public."