Parole process must be 'strengthened'

The Chief Inspector of Probation, Liz Calderbank, says people in prison for serious crimes in England and Wales are not being assessed properly before they are released.

A report compiled by probation and prison inspectors, external looked at the risk assessments carried out before prisoners on life sentences were freed.

Naomi Bryant was murdered in 2005 by Anthony Rice, who had been released from prison on parole three months earlier after the conclusion that he presented only a minimal risk.

Her mother, Verna, explained to Today programme presenter John Humphrys how events led to Mr Rice's release.

"He was already in for life and then they let him out because he was a good boy," she said.

"Having read all the papers of what he did - he attacked three children - I wouldn't have said he was only a minimum risk," she added.

Jeremy Wright, minister for prisons and probation, said: "The failings that have been identified...are failings of the system we have at the moment...They're an argument for change."

First broadcast on the Today programme on Thursday 12 September.