Laws have come into force in a bid to make it harder for killers to get parole if they refuse to reveal where they hid their victim’s body.
The Prisoners (Disclosure of Information About Victims) Act 2020, known as Helen’s Law, was enacted just after midnight.
Named after insurance clerk Helen McCourt, who vanished on her way home from work in 1988, the law will also apply to paedophiles who refuse to identify those they abused.
Ms McCourt’s murderer, Ian Simms, was released last year after serving almost double his 16-year jail sentence.
He has never revealed where he hid her body.
Laws have come into force in a bid to make it harder for killers to get parole if they refuse to reveal where they hid their victim’s body. Ian Simms (left, in August 2014), 63, was convicted of murdering 22-year-old Helen McCourt (right) in 1988, he never revealed where he hid her body
Her mother Marie McCourt spent five years calling for the legislation before it finally gained Royal Assent in November after a series of political and constitutional setbacks.
Under the law, killers could still be released if no longer deemed a risk to the public even if they refuse to disclose information. But the Parole Board will be legally required to consider whether they have co-operated with inquiries as part of their assessment.
Human rights laws prevent the UK introducing a ‘no body, no parole’ rule, which the Government warned may have faced successful legal challenges in the courts.
Her mother Marie McCourt spent five years calling for the legislation before it finally gained Royal Assent in November after a series of political and constitutional setbacks.
The law finally gained royal assent at the end of 2020, but came too late to stop the release of Helen’s murderer, Ian Simms, 64, who was released after serving almost double his 16-year sentence
It is hoped the form the legislation has taken will lead to more killers owning up to their crimes, providing answers for grieving families.
In a post on Twitter, the Helen’s Law campaign group said: ‘After five years of campaigning, three quarters of a million signatures of support, two trips to Downing Street, three visits to Parliament and countless meetings with MPs and ministers, Helen’s Law was added to the statute book at 00.01 am today. Thank you for supporting.’
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland he was ‘delighted’ Helen’s Law had been enacted, adding: ‘Marie McCourt and other campaigners can be immensely proud. Thanks to their efforts more families should get the answers and closure they deserve.’
Last month, Parole Board chief executive Martin Jones said that although prisoners will be questioned, and failure to co-operate may not work in their favour, the Parole Board must release them if it is decided they are no longer a risk to the public but he insisted the circumstances would be taken into account ‘very carefully’ and will ‘add weight to our decision-making’.
Mr Buckland said the law sent a ‘clear message’ that ‘those who refuse to disclose information about their victims should expect to face longer in prison’.
Miss McCourt, 22, an insurance clerk, was killed in February 1988 after vanishing on her way home from work.
Pub landlord Simms was arrested on suspicion of Miss McCourt’s murder within days of her disappearance.
A knotted flex, which contained strands of Miss McCourt’s hair, was found close to some of her possessions which had been dumped in the River Irwell, 20 miles away.
One of her earrings and traces of her blood were then found in his car boot.
It was later revealed he had made uninvited advances towards her at the George And Dragon pub he ran in Billinge, Merseyside despite being married and also keeping a mistress.
Simms claimed in court that he had been framed, but was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court thanks the overwhelming DNA evidence.
He has always refused to reveal the location of her remains and they have never been found.
Simms was eligible to be considered for release in February 2004, but went on to serve almost double his 16-year jail term.