2 March – Federation letter to Independent re Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe

02 March 2010

 

Dear Editor,

I read with interest the opinion piece by Ged Bailes (Some fears cannot be overcome, 2 March) relating to whether the Yorkshire ripper, Peter Sutcliffe, has grounds for a finite end to his life sentence.

As Chairman of the staff association representing 140,000 police officers across England and Wales, we are accustomed to seeing the nastier side of society, but we too are shocked and appalled when someone commits a string of hideous and grisly murders as was the case with Peter Sutcliffe.

I was sympathetic to Ged Bailes when he said that there are some offences so extreme that the perpetrator should never be released on the grounds of public safety, but my sympathy waned with his suggestion that Sutcliffe’s paranoid schizophrenic condition can be managed, thereby giving the green light to release him back into society

I’m no medical expert, but whether his condition is manageable or not is immaterial, what message would the criminal justice system be sending to Sutcliffe’s victims and wider society if we so readily release a serial killer?

Our criminal justice system must put the victims at its heart. Sutcliffe is a cold hearted calculated killer and, for the safety of the public, must spend the rest of his days in prison.

Yours sincerely,

Paul McKeever
Chairman

The Police Federation of England and Wales
Federation House
Highbury Drive
Leatherhead
Surrey KT22 7UY

 

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