Murderers and paedophiles who hold back information on their victims could now face longer behind bars after the Prisoners (Disclosure of Information About Victims) Act – known commonly as ‘Helen’s Law’ - received Royal Assent today.
Parole Board guidance is already clear that offenders who withhold certain information may still pose a risk to the public and therefore could be denied parole. However, the Prisoners (Disclosure of Information About Victims) Act places a legal duty on the Parole Board for the first time to consider the anguish caused by murderers who refuse to disclose the location of a victim’s body when considering them for release.
Rebecca Harris MP welcomes Helen’s Law as denying families a chance to lay their loved ones to rest is a cruelty beyond words, compounding their grief further. By passing Helen’s Law the Government are making it absolutely clear that murderers and evil sexual offenders who refuse to disclose information about their victims should expect to face longer behind bars.
The law will also apply to paedophiles who make indecent images of children but do not identify their victims.
Helen’s Law is part of the Government’s wider overhaul of sentencing policy, which will see dangerous criminals kept in prison for longer, and will ensure more families can get the answers and closure they deserve.
