Alexander: 'If in doubt, let them out' fails again

The case of a paroled child killer facing sex charges six months after his release is just the latest indictment of the Parole Board's 'if in doubt, let them out' philosophy, United Future's Marc Alexander said today.

"The system isn't working, and at least part of the reason for that is that the balance is too heavily weighted in favour of the offender," Mr Alexander, United Future's law and order spokesman, said.

"We continually have streams of shattered victims and their families having to argue that an offender should have to stay behind bars, rather than requiring than criminals to prove that they are worthy of resuming a place in society.

"In this case the family of Simon Reaney, a boy bashed to death at the age of seven by Anthony Lawrence Roma, was right to say he should stay behind bars, and the Parole Board was wrong - again.

"And unfortunately, it appears that we now have a new victim of Roma's criminal nature.

"It's time for the Parole Board to do away with its experiment in rehabilitative kindness, because it is the unsuspecting public who are paying the price," Mr Alexander said.

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