UK Government Plans To Appeal Decision To Release Baby P's Mother From Prison

The UK Government is set to appeal the release of Baby P’s killer mother, Justice Secretary Dominic Raab has said on Wednesday (30 March).

Tracey Connelly was cleared for release following a successful fourth parole hearing.

The 40-year-old was jailed back in 2009 for a minimum term of five years after she pleaded guilty to causing or allowing the death of her seventeen-month-old son Peter, known publicly as Baby P.

Her son died at their home in Tottenham, north London, in August 2007.

A statement from the Ministry of Justice Parole board explained the current situation.

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It read: "We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board has directed the release of Tracey Connolly following an oral hearing.

"Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.

"Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority."

However, Dominic Raab told the House of Commons this afternoon that he plans to appeal against the Parole Board's decision.

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He said: "In light of the Parole Board’s direction to release Tracey Connelly, I should inform the House that having carefully read the decision, I have decided to apply to the Parole Board to seek their reconsideration."

Baby P suffered more than 50 injuries at the hands of Connelly's partner Steven Barker and his brother Jason Owen.

Raab added: "More generally, the role of the Parole Board in deciding on the appropriateness of release from prison of criminal offenders, including many convicted of very serious violent and sexual offences, is clearly of paramount importance to protecting the public but also maintaining and sustaining public confidence in our justice system.

"It’s the first duty of government to protect the public."

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Connelly is currently set to be released following the approval from the Parole Board, which was told by witnesses Connolly now poses a low risk of reoffending.

Barker was sentenced to a minimum of 12 years in prison for his role in Baby P's death.

While Owen was jailed for six years and has since been released back into the community.