On 22 November 2007 the then Minister for Security, Counter Terrorism Crime and Policing, the Under-Secretary of State for Justice, and I invited HM Chief Inspector of the CPS, HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary, HM Chief Inspector of Courts Administration and HM Chief Inspector of Prisons jointly to undertake a review into the circumstances which led to Anthony Leon Peart being at liberty on 29 July 2005, when Richard Whelan was fatally stabbed by him. On that day, Peart had been released from Forest Bank prison, Greater Manchester when there was a warrant outstanding for his immediate arrest.

The Chief Inspectors’ report was published on 28 April 2008 and made a number of detailed recommendations. A cross-agency working group was convened to take forward the detailed work in implementing the recommendations. A number of these have now been implemented in full and significant work has been conducted on those remaining. I have today placed a short report on progress in the Libraries of both Houses and published it on the Attorney-General’s Office website.