Monitoring serious offenders in the community
“The murder of Kelly Pearce on November 19, 2015, was shocking and tragic. I extend my heartfelt condolences to Kelly’s family and friends.”
“As disclosed during the trial, Ayres had a history of committing acts of extreme violence. When Ayres was previously found guilty of murder in 1994, it was reported that the judge described him as representing a serious danger to women.
“His subsequent murder of Kelly in 2015 has highlighted the risks of releasing serious offenders on license and the challenges of properly monitoring them in the community.
“As Police and Crime Commissioner, I have recently become a member of the Essex Criminal Justice Board. I am aware that formal reviews into the murder of Kelly Pearce are underway. It is essential that all relevant agencies, including probation services, the police, local authorities and the NHS, work closely together, sharing information, to prevent such tragedies from happening.
“Crucially, we need to understand why the monitoring arrangements put in place in this case were ineffective. A review of these procedures is needed.”
Roger Hirst, Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex
