The mother of Baby P who was jailed for allowing her boyfriend and his brother to torture him has won her fourth bid for parole.
The parole board ruled on Wednesday that Tracey Connelly, 40, is fit for freedom after assessing the level of risk that she poses to the public.
However, within hours of the announcement, Justice Secretary Dominic Raab, announced that he would be challenging the decision "after carefully reading the documentation." He will exercise his legal right to ask the parole board to reconsider her release.
It came as he pledged to keep dangerous criminals in prison “as long as necessary” by taking new powers to block the release of up to 100 murderers, rapists, terrorists and child killers a year.
Connelly had previously lost bids for release in 2015, 2017 and 2019 after being recalled to jail for selling nude pictures of herself online.
Connelly’s toddler son Peter died in 2007 after suffering more than 50 injuries at the hands of her partner Steven Barker and his paedophile brother Jason Owen over an eight-month period.
Connelly, 40, was jailed over the youngster's death after pleading guilty to causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable person in 2008.
She was initially released in 2013 but was locked up again two years later after breaking the terms of her indefinite sentence by selling the pornographic pictures of herself.
Announcing his plans to MPs to shake up the parole board, Mr Raab opened by saying he would appeal the parole board recommendation for Connelly to be released.
He said that he would take back powers that allow him to overrule the parole board in the most high-profile and sensitive cases involving murder, rape, terrorism and “those who have caused or allowed the death of a child.”
Officials will sift through more than 600 cases a year where the parole board has recommended release to identify some 100 where justice ministers led by Mr Raab will consider whether they should veto the decision and keep them locked up.
It will be part of the biggest shake-up of the board in its 54 year history and is designed to prevent a repeat of scandals including the release of Colin Pitchfork, a double child murderer, and an abortive decision to free John Worboys, the black cab rapist.
Mr Raab said: “Keeping the public safe is Government's first duty, and the British people expect us to keep dangerous criminals behind bars for as long as necessary to protect them.
“I am not satisfied our approach is as robust as it needs to be which is why I’ll be setting out plans to restore public confidence in the system.”
A parole board spokesman said: “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.”
