Boost for James Bulger's mother as new bill could keep his killer behind bars
Dangerous criminals including murderers, rapists and terrorists will be blocked from being released from prison under new powers for ministers.
It is a huge boost for James Bulger's mother who has tirelessly campaigned for her two-year-old son’s evil murderer Jon Venables to be kept behind bars.
Denise Fergus told the Mirror in January that “it would be historic” to see laws ensuring “Venables would never see the light of day”.
And today she will finally see official plans for the parole system to be overhauled under a new Victims and Prisoners Bill that is to be introduced.
In an exclusive interview ahead of the 30th anniversary of James’s murder on February 12, Ms Fergus, 54, revealed Justice Secretary Dominic Raab last summer promised her Venables would never leave prison.
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James Bulger's mother Denise Fergus (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)She said: “In that meeting I was hearing words I’d always wanted to hear. His lips were moving, but I couldn’t hear it all because I never believed I would hear those words.
“The words that, under his plans, Venables would never walk free again.
“I didn’t think this day would ever come. I froze.”
Legislation will now give ministers powers to block the release of him and other offenders of horrific crimes.
The Bill will legislate for a new release test for the Parole Board making it clear that public safety is the only priority when making release decisions.
It will stop a balancing exercise which takes into account prisoners’ rights.
James was just two years old when he was snatched from a shopping centre in Bootle, Liverpool, on 12 February 1993.
His body was found on a railway line two days later. His killers were Robert Thompson and Venables, both aged 10.
The abduction was captured on CCTV and the two boys were convicted of murder in November 1993 and detained indefinitely.
They were released, aged 18, in 2001 and given new identities after spending just eight years in young offender institutions.
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Venables was sent back to jail in 2010 and 2017 after being caught with child sex abuse images on his PC.
He was turned down for parole in 2020 after serving his minimum 40 months’ sentence, but has made a new bid for freedom.
As well as overhauling the parole system, the Bill will also stop prisoners serving whole-life orders from marrying or forming a civil partnership in prison.
The Bill overall seeks to give more powers to victims, including the ability to challenge the police’s decision to drop a rape or domestic abuse case.
Children born as a result of rape will also be explicitly designated as victims, it will also set out.
The Bill will be debated and scrutinised by MPs in the Commons then in the House of Lords before it becomes law.
But Shadow Victims Minister Anna McMorrin criticised delays in the legislation coming to fruition.
He said: “For 13 years, the Conservative criminal justice system has let victims down and criminals off the hook.
“It’s been eight years and seven justice secretaries since they first promised this Bill, and now they’ve had to combine it with parole reform. Yet again, the Tories overpromise and underdeliver.
Jon Venables was ten when he killed toddler James Bulger (PA)“Victims are now waiting years for a trial because of record court backlogs... Rape victims are suffering on average for three years as they wait to hear their case in court.
“ Labour will put victims at the heart of the criminal justice system. We will double the number of Crown prosecutors to cut the courts backlog, give victims of anti-social behaviour rights under the Victims Code and strengthen the powers of the Victims’ Commissioner. That’s how we will protect victims, prevent crime, and punish criminals.”
Diana Fawcett, Chief Executive at the charity Victim Support said: “We welcome many of the measures in the Bill which will make a real and meaningful difference to the experience of victims.
"But we are seriously worried that expanding its scope to include prisoners will be a distraction and delay it even further.
"Public confidence in the criminal justice system is at rock bottom and the court system in crisis.
"Victims have been waiting years for this Bill – it is a vital opportunity to improve their rights – and we don’t want this focus to be lost. It must be a Bill that delivers for victims.”
Mr Raab said: “Our reforms will improve the experience for victims from the first meeting with a police officer to the support they get in court and we will refocus the parole system on its overriding duty to protect the public from violent and sexual criminals.”
Justice Minister Edward Argar said: “We want victims going through the justice system to feel listened to, supported, informed, and to be treated fairly, properly, and with dignity.
“Taken together, these measures will mean victims always know the level of help they should receive and always have somewhere to turn.”
Justice Minister Damian Hinds said: “It is vital the public has confidence that murderers, rapists and terrorists will be kept behind bars for as long as is necessary to keep the public safe.
“Our new laws mean Ministers can block the release of the most dangerous offenders and will ensure public safety is always the primary factor in parole decisions."
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