Written question asked by David Winnick (Labour) on Wednesday, 16 November 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 21 November 2005. It was answered by Fiona Mactaggart (Labour) on Thursday, 1 December 2005 on behalf of the Home Office.

Philip Lawrence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make inquiries into the reasons why the widow of Mr. Philip Lawrence was asked questions by the Probation Service regarding the possible release of the person convicted of his killing; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: It is not appropriate to discuss the details of an individual's contact with the National Probation Service, particularly where it would involve the disclosure of personal information. However, set out are details of the National Probation Service Victim Contact Scheme in operation across England and Wales.The National Probation Service has a statutory duty to operate a Victim Contact Scheme. The scheme operates for all victims where the offender has been sentenced to 12 months or more for a sexual or violent offence.The purpose of the scheme is to provide a point of contact with the probation service through which victims are able to express any concerns or anxieties about the offender and, if they wish, be kept informed about key stages in an offender's sentence.Victims are also offered the opportunity to express their views on the offender's conditions of release. The victim's views on licence conditions will usually be set out in a written report from the victim contact officer to those responsible for making decisions about an offender's release.Participation in the scheme is entirely voluntary and victims may choose to take up the offer of contact at any point during an offender's sentence. The probation service's work with victims is an important contribution to community safety and helps to address issues of risk to the public, as well as providing support to victims.

Secondary information