London Mayor Sadiq Khan asks court to review decision to free rapist John Worboys
The politician brands the decision to release Worboys "astonishing and deeply concerning" and says it "cannot go unchallenged".
Thursday 25 January 2018 17:49, UK
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has lodged an application for a judicial review of the decision to free rapist John Worboys from prison.
The Labour politician said he lodged an application following the decision of the Parole Board.
In a statement, he said: "It was an astonishing and deeply concerning decision that simply cannot go unchallenged. For victims, and all Londoners, it must be properly scrutinised in the courts. The Chair of the Parole Board has welcomed this scrutiny.
"I will always put the safety of Londoners, and the needs of victims, first - which is why I instructed leading counsel to begin this process last week.
"Londoners need to know that those in authority are doing everything they can to keep them safe, and that means keeping dangerous individuals off our streets."
Lawyers for two of Worboys' victims have since confirmed to Sky News they have also submitted their own applications for judicial review.
Their application challenges statutory rules preventing the Parole Board explaining its decision-making process.
It follows criticism of the Parole Board's decision to approve 60-year-old Worboys' release later this month, after his minimum eight-year term.
The former black cab driver was jailed indefinitely in 2009 for drugging and sexually assaulting female passengers between 2002 and 2008.
He was convicted of 19 offences relating to 12 victims but is suspected of being linked to a total of 102 complaints.
Another allegation of historical sexual assault against the man came to light this month and is reported to have taken place in 1997.
Police are investigating the claim but no arrests have been made.
Mr Khan's intervention comes as Worboys was reportedly transferred from HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire to HMP Belmarsh in southeast London at the weekend.
The Government is being urged to ensure he is kept away from the capital - where he preyed on his victims.
Justice Secretary David Gauke has since said he has stressed to officials "the need to ensure that the concerns of victims are at the heart of the process" with relation to deciding Worboys' licence conditions.
He is expected to spend several months in a probation hostel, which is staffed 24 hours a day and imposes a night-time curfew, following his release.
Mr Gauke revealed last week that the Government did not intend to seek a judicial review of the Parole Board's decision.