High Risk Whiting

Whiting was supervised by probation officers for four months after he was released from prison and moved to Littlehampton in November, 1997, three years before he kidnapped and murdered schoolgirl Sarah Payne.

Probation officials launched an internal management review following Whiting s conviction and sentence to life imprisonment last month, and also examined working between probation, police and other agencies.

Brian Clark, chief officer, told the Sussex Probation Board on Monday the two reviews had concluded: "The case was properly managed and supervised by probation and there was a good level of communication between the agencies."

His report to the board said the then West Sussex Probation Service first became involved with Whiting when he was assessed before being sentenced at Lewes Crown Court in June, 1995, for kidnapping and indecently assaulting a 10-year-old girl at Crawley, where he lived at the time.

The pre-sentence report assessed Whiting s risk of reoffending as "high", and he was jailed for four years.

Whiting s probation officer recommended against his release on parole because of his high risk assessment.

"However," added Mr Clark, "in November, 1997, he was released automatically (as required by law) and was supervised on license by West Sussex Probation Service until March 1998.

"Mr Whiting reported to the probation service as required for four months and his licence ended at its completion date in March, 1998, and there was no further probation contact with Mr Whiting."

The murder trial, said Mr Clark, had attracted huge media attention, much of it focused on the sex offenders register.

"There will be an ongoing debate about how the public can effectively be protected against dangerous offenders," Mr Clark predicted.