news story

16th February 2006

MP "Shocked" At Refusal Of Investigation Into Clive Hayes

Northavon MP Steve Webb has expressed his shock at the refusal of the Home Office to conduct a full investigation into how Clive Hayes, believed to have murdered Polish care worker Karolina Mikolajewska, came to be placed into Leyhill open prison and subsequently released.

The MP was responding to a Parliamentary written answer from Home Office minister Fiona Mactaggart which he had just received. Steve Webb, whose constituency includes Leyhill prison as well as Thornbury, where Hayes is believed to have died, tabled a question in Parliament last week asking the Home Office to investigate the process which led to the man being risk-assessed as suitable to be placed in an open prison, as well as the decision to grant him parole.

In reply, the Government says: "There are no plans at this stage to conduct an investigation into the decisions taken in relation to Mr Hayes' release or his transfer to open conditions. However, I can say that his case is being reviewed by the probation service in line with the  processes in place for addressing those cases where an offender has been charged with a serious further offence"

Commenting, Steve Webb said:

"I am shocked that the Home Office do not seem to be taking this seriously enough. The gravity of what has happened warrants more than a routine inquiry.

"Local people have been greatly touched by Karolina's fate and have responded generously. They want to know how this man came to be released after three previous violent assaults and especially given the comments of the judge at his trial.

"The least that the Home Office can do is to think again and make sure that lessons are learned".

Click here to read the text of the Home Office reply to Steve Webb