Victims relatives should have say in murderers release date

Victims' relatives should be legally represented at hearings to decide when murderers are freed from prison, according to the Commons home affairs select committee, which also confirmed its view that the Home Secretary should no longer play any part in deciding when to release convicted killers.

However, members had not changed their view that the mandatory life sentence should remain for all murders - resisting pleas from the senior judiciary, peers and lawyers for its abolition.