Government to introduce "Helen's Law"

Justice Secretary David Gauke has confirmed that the government will legislate so that murderers who fail to disclose the whereabouts of a victim’s body will face spending longer behind bars. 

Key facts: 
  • ‘Helen’s Law’ will place a legal duty on the Parole Board to take into account if a murderer is withholding information about the location of a victim's body when making a decision on whether to release the person convicted of the offence. 
  • Named after Helen McCourt – murdered in 1988 – whose killer has never revealed her whereabouts, this law will mean that murderers who fail to disclose the whereabouts of a victim’s body could spend more time in prison.
  • The move follows the unwavering campaign of Helen’s mother, Marie McCourt, to see the law changed and comes after recent meetings with the Justice Secretary. 
  • This builds on wider reforms to the parole system, announced earlier this year, that will allow victims for the first time to challenge a release decision if they believe it was fundamentally flawed. 

Why this matters: 

The profound grief inflicted on families and friends of the murdered is incalculable. Those responsible should know that if they choose to compound this further through their behaviour, they will be held accountable.

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