Notorious police killer to be released

Murderer Harry Roberts who killed three officers in Shepherd's Bush, west London, in 1966, is due to be released after more than 45 years behind bars.

Police killer Harry Roberts is to be released from prison after serving more than 45 years behind bars
Police killer Harry Roberts is to be released from prison after serving more than 45 years behind bars Credit: Photo: PA

Police killer Harry Roberts is to be released from prison after serving more than 45 years behind bars.

He was jailed for life for the murder of three policemen in Shepherd's Bush, west London, in 1966 and told he would never be released.

The chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, which represents frontline officers, said he was appalled at the decision.

"Let’s not forget, this menace murdered three unarmed police officers in cold blood and it is abhorrent news," said the chairman, Steve White.

"This decision by the parole board is a slap in the face for the families of the three police officers he brutally murdered who, once again, are forced to re-live their pain and loss. It will spark fury among everyone in the police family who will feel badly let down."

The officers were shot, in what was later called the massacre of Braybrook Street, after they pulled over a van containing Roberts and two others.

Pc Geoffrey Fox, 41, Sergeant Christopher Head, 30, and Detective Constable David Wombwell, 25, had approached the van after seeing it parked near Wormwood Scrubs prison.

The officers were in plain clothes and had approached the van after suspecting a prison break. In fact the men were preparing to commit an armed robbery.

Roberts shot dead Mr Wombwell and Mr Head, while Mr Fox was killed by another member of the gang.

Roberts was given three life sentences for the murders and his 30 year minimum tariff expired 18 years ago.

The 78-year-old has now been approved for release by the Parole Board.

On his release from Littlehey Prison in Cambridge he will be subject to close monitoring by the Probation Service.

An Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "The release of life sentence prisoners is directed by the independent Parole Board once they are satisfied they can be safely managed in the community.

"Once released they are subject to strict controls for as long as their risk requires them. If they fail to comply with these conditions they can be immediately returned to prison. Offenders managed through Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (Mappa) are monitored and supervised by probation, police and other agencies."

After the murders Roberts went on the run for three months.

He used his Army-based jungle training to camp out in Hertfordshire and elude capture for more than 90 days.

When he was finally brought to justice, Mr Justice Glyn-Jones said it was a "heinous" crime and told him: "I think it likely that no Home Secretary regarding the enormity of your crime will ever think fit to show mercy by releasing you on licence."

He would have faced the death penalty but it was abolished eight months prior to his sentence.

Mr White added: “We pride ourselves on having a largely unarmed police service in England and Wales. However, in turn, we expect the judicial system to provide the deterrent needed to help protect police officers from injury or serious harm while doing their duty.

"In May 2013, the Home Secretary said she would introduce legislation to make sure life really does mean life for people who murder police officers. We cannot go on waiting; this needs to happen urgently. This decision by the Parole Board will do nothing to give confidence to police officers and the public that the most serious and dangerous offenders will remain behind bars.”

Theresa May, the Home Secretary, refused to comment on the move to release Roberts.

Arriving at an engagement in central London, she said: "It's a decision by the independent Parole Board."

She later issued a statement, saying: “Policemen and women go out to work every day knowing that they might face great danger and they carry out their duties with great courage.

“I strongly believe that anyone who murders a police officer belongs behind bars – and behind bars for life. That is why I have made sure the Government will change the law so life will mean life for anyone who murders a police officer.”

Last year Mrs May announced that she would legislate for all police killers to receive "whole life" tariffs, meaning they would die in jail.

However, it would not be possible to impose the new sentencing powers retrospectively.

Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, said he wanted to defend "valiantly and vigorously" the system which takes such decisions - however unpopular they are.

He told listeners on his weekly LBC phone-in: "A decision has been taken to release this character after 48 years in prison, it's not about my feelings, it's about how the justice system works. If you want to run the system according to the latest emotion you feel, fine, but that would be a disaster."

The Parole Board said in a statement: "We can confirm that a three-member panel of the board has directed the release of Harry Roberts.

"The decision to release is a matter for the board, which is independent - arrangements and the date of the release are a matter for the Secretary of State for Justice. We are unable to comment further on the details of this case."

Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, said people would be "absolutely sickened" by the news.

“They will find it hard to understand how a man who shot dead three police officers in this city in the most horrific fashion can now enjoy the freedom he denied his victims," he said.

"To my mind, in the case of the murder of a police officer, life should mean life.”

While serving his sentence, Roberts was rejected for parole after it was revealed he was harassing pensioner Joan Cartwright, 65, on a daily basis after working at her animal sanctuary on day release.

He telephoned her almost every day for four years after suspecting she had given evidence which blocked his attempt to gain parole.

The calls, in which he spoke of tearing "limb from limb" anyone who spoke against him, coincided with a campaign of attacks on animals at the sanctuary which she ran.

Attacks included a horse slashed with an axe, another blinded with an iron bar, a cat electrocuted, a peacock strangled and a donkey which had to be put down after being beaten.

Mrs Cartwright and her son, James, raised concerns about Roberts in 2001 while he was working at the sanctuary.

She said he forced her to pick him up and drive him around in her car and demanded that she cook him breakfast every day, flying into a rage if his egg was not fried to his exacting requirements, she claimed.

Roberts's day release was cancelled abruptly and he was moved away from the open prison after the Cartwrights passed on their concerns.

At the time Mrs Cartwright said she feared for her family's safety if he was ever released.

"If he comes out, he may come looking for us," she said,

Derbyshire Police refused to comment on whether measures had been stepped up to protect the family but it is understood Roberts will be closely monitored by a number of crime agencies.