Editing Colin Pitchfork (section)

==Parole reviews==
On 22 April 2016, the [[Parole Board for England and Wales]] heard Pitchfork's case for early release on parole.<ref name=":4" /> Pitchfork's [[advocate]]s presented evidence of his improved character, noting that Pitchfork had furthered his education to [[academic degree|degree]] level and had become expert at the transcription of printed music into [[braille]], for the benefit of [[blindness|blind]] people.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=2016-04-29 |title=No parole for Colin Pitchfork: First killer caught by DNA |language=en-GB |newspaper=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-36168459 |access-date=2017-02-04}}</ref> The families of victims Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth opposed his release on parole.<ref name=":4" />

On 29 April 2016, the board announced that Pitchfork's application for release on licence had been refused, but recommended that he be moved to an [[open prison]].<ref name=":3" /> In June 2016, [[Michael Gove]], then [[Secretary of State for Justice|Justice Secretary]], agreed with the board's recommendation,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-36481817|title=Colin Pitchfork: First killer caught by DNA "should move to open prison"|date=2016-06-08|newspaper=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-02-04}}</ref> and at some point prior to 8 January 2017, Pitchfork was moved to an undisclosed open prison.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-38547168|title=Colin Pitchfork: Fears after child killer moved to open prison|date=2017-01-08|newspaper=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-02-04}}</ref>

In November 2017, Pitchfork was seen walking around [[Bristol]], so it was assumed that he had been moved to [[HM Prison Leyhill]] in [[Gloucestershire]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Davies |first1=Natasha |title=Child killer allowed to go shopping on his own in Bristol city centre |url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/child-killer-colin-pitchfork-allowed-766966 |access-date=23 March 2021 |work=[[Bristol Post]] |publisher=[[Local World]] |date=13 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113171542/https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/child-killer-colin-pitchfork-allowed-766966 |archive-date=13 November 2017 |location=[[Bristol]] |language=en}}</ref>

On 3 May 2018, Pitchfork was refused release on licence. The Parole Board said Pitchfork would be eligible for a further review within two years. Lynda's mother said the board had "listened to us before the murderer". In 2017, it emerged Pitchfork would be released from open prison on unsupervised days out.<ref>{{cite news |title=Colin Pitchfork: Double child killer denied parole |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-43993232 |accessdate=3 October 2018|work=BBC News}}</ref>

===2021: release and recall===
On 7 June 2021, Pitchfork was granted release on conditional licence. The Secretary of State for Justice, [[Robert Buckland]], applied for a review of the decision under the terms of the Parole Board Reconsideration Mechanism, introduced in 2019, and Pitchfork remained in custody pending the outcome.<ref>{{cite news |title=Colin Pitchfork: Double schoolgirl murderer can be released |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-57384393 |accessdate=7 June 2021|work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://inews.co.uk/news/colin-pitchfork-released-prison-double-child-murderer-parole-board-government-challenge-1101061|title=Double child murderer Colin Pitchfork to be released from prison despite Government challenge|date=13 July 2021|website=inews.co.uk}}</ref> On 13 July 2021, it was reported that the review had been refused and that Pitchfork would therefore be released.<ref name="Release">{{Cite news |date=13 July 2021 |title=Colin Pitchfork: Double child killer's release confirmed |work=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-57737050 |access-date=30 August 2021}}</ref> He was released on 1 September 2021.<ref>{{cite news |date=1 September 2021| title=Double child killer Colin Pitchfork has been released from prison |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/09/01/double-child-killer-colin-pitchfork-has-released-prison/ |access-date=1 September 2021}}</ref>

In November 2021, Pitchfork was recalled to prison for breaching his licence conditions by "approaching young women" while on walks from his [[bail hostel]].<ref name="BBC 59377431">{{cite news |title=Colin Pitchfork recalled to jail after approaching young women |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-59377431 |access-date=22 November 2021 |work=BBC News |date=22 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=19 November 2021| title=Colin Pitchfork: Double child killer arrested and recalled to prison after 'breaching licence conditions' |work=Sky News |url=https://news.sky.com/story/colin-pitchfork-double-child-killer-arrested-and-recalled-to-prison-after-breaching-licence-conditions-12472797 |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref> His second victim's mother, Barbara Ashworth, told [[BBC News]] that she was pleased "he's been put away and women and girls are safe and protected from him now".<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-11-19|title=Double child killer Colin Pitchfork sent back to prison|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-59354638|access-date=2021-11-19}}</ref> There are complaints that the Parole Board was insufficiently cautious in allowing Pitchfork's release. Justice Secretary [[Dominic Raab]] promised a Parole Board review. David Baker, a former police detective who helped capture Pitchfork, believes Pitchfork could deceive the Parole Board and pretend it was safe to release him. Baker maintains Pitchfork is a [[psychopath]] and it will never be safe to release him.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-59394475 Colin Pitchfork: Justice Secretary Dominic Raab pledges parole review] ''[[BBC]]''</ref>

===2023: consideration for release===
The Parole Board's hearing to consider releasing Pitchfork again was postponed to 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Richardson |first=Hannah |date=2022-12-08 |title=Child-killer Colin Pitchfork's parole hearing delayed again |url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/child-killer-colin-pitchforks-parole-7904200 |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=LeicestershireLive |language=en}}</ref> His potential release was opposed by [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]] [[Alberto Costa (British politician)|Alberto Costa]].<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-61192451 Colin Pitchfork: Parole hearing for double child killer and rapist] ''[[BBC]]''</ref>

In June 2023 it was announced that Pitchfork would again be released under parole.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-06-15 |title=Colin Pitchfork: Double child killer and rapist to be released |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-65479515 |access-date=2023-06-15}}</ref> The decision was widely criticised.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-06-15 |title=Colin Pitchfork: Double child killer and rapist to be released |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-65479515 |access-date=2023-06-16}}</ref> In July 2023, the Lord Chancellor intervened and ordered that the board reconsider their decision after a huge public outcry, particularly since Pitchfork breached his licence conditions within weeks of his initial release.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-07-27 |title=Who is Colin Pitchfork? |url=https://news.sky.com/story/who-is-colin-pitchfork-the-double-child-murderer-waiting-to-see-if-hell-be-released-from-prison-12914724 |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=SkyNews |language=en}}</ref> Pitchfork's new parole hearing took place on 2 and 3 October 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-66817247|title=Colin Pitchfork: Date set for double child killer's parole hearing|website=BBC News|date=15 September 2023|first=Greig|last=Watson}}</ref> In December 2023, parole was denied, meaning that Pitchfork would remain in prison.{{where|date=March 2025}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/child-killer-colin-pitchfork-denied-prison-release-parole-board-b1125404.html|website=Evening Standard|title=Double child killer denied prison release|date=7 December 2023|first=Callum|last=Parke}}</ref>

===2024 review===
Pitchfork challenged the Parole Board's decision on procedural grounds, and in February 2024 the Board agreed to schedule another hearing before a different panel to consider his potential release.<ref> {{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/colin-pitchfork-parole-prison-release-b2494805.html|title=Double child rapist and murderer Colin Pitchfork to have fresh parole hearing|date=12 February 2024|newspaper=The Independent|first=Rick|last=Booth}}</ref> On 16 May 2024, the Parole Board Chair, Caroline Corby, reversed an earlier decision that Pitchfork's parole hearing should be held behind closed doors; the next hearing was broadcast due to public interest. There will be a preliminary hearing behind closed doors to address "practical matters".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66461c91bd01f5ed32793d54/Application_for_a_Public_Hearing_in_the_case_of_C_Pitchfork_2024_PBPH_10__16_May_2024_.pdf|title=Application for a Public Hearing in the case of Mr Colin Pitchfork|newspaper=the Parole Board|date= May 16, 2024|access-date=August 17, 2024}}</ref>