Lord Blunkett leads calls to throw out parole appeal for James Bulger killer, Jon Venables

David Blunkett last night called for the parole appeal by James Bulger killer Jon Venables to be thrown out.

The former Labour Home Secretary made clear Venables should stay behind bars after reports that he failed to appear at his own behind-closed-doors parole case earlier this month.

Venables, 41, who with accomplice Robert Thompson tortured and killed two-year-old James Bulger in 1993, is now awaiting the outcome of a Parole Board panel hearing held on November 14 and 15.

The board has declined to confirm that Venables did not attend his own appeal hearing, but informed sources say he was not there.

He was accused of 'taking the easy option' by avoiding having to listen to impact statements from James's parents, as well as comments from the Justice Secretary Alex Chalk, all of whom believe the appeal should be rejected.

Lord Blunkett said: 'Where there has been a serious doubt about successful rehabilitation, it is a prerequisite of consideration for release that the individual appears in person.'

Tory ex-Justice Secretaries Sir Robert Buckland, Brandon Lewis and Chris Grayling also made clear that Venables – who like Thompson was aged ten at the time of the murder – should stay in custody.

Fewer criminals being deported

The number of foreign criminals being deported has plummeted since 2010, official figures have revealed.

In the year to September, 3,577 offenders were deported, according to Home Office data.

This is down from 6,292 in 2017 – a 43 per cent drop – but up 19 per cent on 2022. In 2010, the figure was 5,383.

Last year, more criminals were returned to Albania than anywhere else, followed by Romania. Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: ‘The Tory record on removing foreign criminals is a shambles.’

The Home Office said returns have been rising since Covid.