Justice system condemned as ‘utterly disgraceful’

The criminal justice system has been strongly criticised for its lax attitude towards criminals who commit offences on bail.

Three high profile murder cases have prompted families of two of the victims to brand the system “utterly disgraceful” and “corrupted by money and power”.

A parliamentary select committee on modern policing heard that the courts system had “no respect” for the family of victims.

The attacks came as MPs heard evidence about the cases of police officer Gary Weddell and father-of-three Garry Newlove, which both sparked outcry last year.

Just days later, an inquiry into how a schizophrenic killed an innocent man on a bus in north London hours after being wrongly freed from custody, found that officials in the courts, probation and police showed “apparent acceptance” of breached bail conditions.

Anthony Joseph stabbed Richard Whelan, 28, seven times, including once through the heart, after he tried to stop Joseph throwing chips at his girlfriend.

The joint report by the four inspectorates of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Constabulary and Prisons found that there was no single act or omission that could be blamed for the “tragic” fatal stabbing of Mr Whelan.

However it adds: “What we have found is what may best be described as a lackadaisical or nonchalant approach within the CJS [criminal justice system] to many routine aspects of the handling of cases.”

The “cumulative effect” of that led to a sequence of events culminating in the death of Mr Whelan on July 29, 2005, the report says.

Joseph was freed despite a warrant for his arrest over an alleged burglary. Merseyside Police, which was investigating the burglary, did not know that Joseph had been in custody because a computer system had not been updated.

The report said that ministers should consider giving prisons “enhanced access” to the Police National Computer (PNC).

Joseph was repeatedly bailed to a non-existent address in Camden, North London, by magistrates. The inspectors found no evidence that the authorities had checked whether the address was suitable or even genuine.

Joseph, 23, had nine convictions between 2001 and the year of the manslaughter. None was for violent crime, although there was one for possessing an offensive weapon.

MPs were told that Weddell, who shot dead his mother-in-law after being bailed for the murder of his wife, was freed because he was related to a wealthy barrister.

Weddell, a Metropolitan Police inspector, was charged with the murder of his wife Sandra, but was released from remand by a judge after agreeing to live at the home of his brother, a barrister, who also put up a £200,000 surety.

Weddell then stole a shotgun from a gun club and murdered his mother-in-law, Traute Maxfield, before killing himself as he thought police were closing in.

Paul Carne, Sandra Weddell’s brother, told MPs that wealth and privilege had contributed to the judge’s decision to free Weddell on bail.

Mr Carne said: “His brother was able to pick up a significant amount of surety, he also had a high position being a barrister and the judge was aware of that.”

He added: “It was certainly a contributing element. I think if Gary Weddell had been somebody with a more normal position, and his brother also, then the support for bail would not have been so strong.”

Speaking about the judge’s decision, Mr Carne said the process of granting bail must be improved. “I felt that the judge at the outset had a prior disposition to grant bail.”

Also appearing before the Home Affairs select committee was the widow of Garry Newlove, who was murdered by a gang of youths in front of his family after he had confronted them about vandalism outside his home. Helen Newlove said she was appalled by how the relatives of victims were forgotten as cases went to court.