A RECRUITMENT campaign in the North of England has seen a record number of Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates appointed to become Parole Board members.
These appointments triple the number and will bring the board’s BAME diversity to nearly 13 per cent.
Prior to the campaign, fewer than five per cent of the board’s members identified as being from a BAME background.
Following an extensive outreach campaign, 53 independent members will join the board, 48 per cent of whom are from a BAME background, a Parole Board statement read.
In separate campaigns, three retired judges and 20 psychologists, including 17 per cent from a BAME background, were also appointed from across England and Wales for their specialist skills.
The board has been calling for a more diverse membership that better reflects the community it serves and brings a mix of perspectives and experiences to decision-making.
It was highlighted in the review undertaken by David Lammy MP that a lack of diversity can impact the confidence and trust in the Criminal Justice System.
Commenting on the success of this campaign, Caroline Corby, Chair of the Parole Board, said: “I am delighted that we have taken significant steps to improve the diversity of our membership. It is vital that we represent the community that we serve to continue to increase public confidence in our decision-making.
“This campaign was only the first step, and we hope to continue to build on our success when we next recruit, anticipated to be in the Midlands in 2020.”
The role of Parole Board members is to keep the public safe by making impartial, risk-based decisions about the release of prisoners, who have served the punishment part of their sentence.
Members will only release someone when they assess that it is safe to do so and when they are satisfied that effective risk management arrangements are in place.
Members come from a variety of backgrounds and are independent public appointees, who are selected through a rigorous recruitment process.
Once appointed, they will receive extensive training and mentoring to ensure they are properly equipped to make these challenging decisions.
Davindra and Seema Misra, and Vijay and Gita Parekh
Varchas Patel with his father Vipin and mother Jayshriben
Hasmukh Shingadia and his wife Chandrika were all victims of the Horizon scandal
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Man pleads not guilty to murder of BBC presenter's family
A 26-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering the wife and two daughters of BBC sports commentator John Hunt in a crossbow and knife attack.
Kyle Clifford, who also faces charges of rape, appeared via video link at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday.
Clifford, arrested in July after a manhunt, is charged with three counts of murder, one count each of rape and false imprisonment, and two counts of possessing offensive weapons – a 10-inch knife and a crossbow.
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session.
He is expected to enter a plea for that charge at a later date.
The victims were Carol Hunt, 61, wife of horseracing commentator John Hunt, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
An earlier hearing revealed that Louise had been found tied up and that both she and her sister had been shot with a crossbow, while their mother had been stabbed with a knife.
The fatal attack occurred at the family’s home in Bushey, a commuter town near Watford, northwest of London.
(With inputs from AFP)