Harry Roberts released
The release of a man convicted of murdering three police officers in the 1960s has caused widespread anger among police officers, according to the chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW).
The release of a man convicted of murdering three police officers in the 1960s has caused widespread anger among police officers, according to the chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW).
Harry Roberts, 78, was jailed for life for his part in the murders of Detective Constable David Wombwell, 25, PC Geoffrey Fox, 41, and Sergeant Christopher Head, 30, in 1966.
The murders occurred when the three officers approached Roberts, who was sitting in a van near Wormwood Scrubs prison, to ask questions. Roberts then shot dead Det Const Wombwell and Sgt Head. PC Fox was killed by another member of the gang, but Roberts was also convicted of his murder.
He was told he would serve a minimum of 30 years for the killings.
Roberts was released from Littlehey Prison in Cambridgeshire on November 11 having served 48 years of his life sentence.
The decision to release him was confirmed by the Parole Board of England and Wales in October.
At the PFEWs annual conference in May 2013, the Home Secretary pledged to change the law so that anyone convicted of killing a police officer would receive a life sentence without parole. However, that law would only apply to new cases.
Chair of the PFEW Steve White said the news about Roberts release demonstrates the need for urgent legislative change to ensure those convicted of killing police officers do remain in prison for their whole life, adding that officers feel badly let down by the criminal justice system.
While Harry Roberts may have served 48 years in prison, we must not lose sight that he was involved in the brutal murder of three unarmed police officers; their families have been condemned to a life sentence without their loved ones, he added.