Why Is No-One Asking The Obvious Question?

This little gem from the ‘Mail’ is intriguing for what it doesn’t say:

MPs are to be 'gagged' from warning the public that a killer, paedophile or terrorist is being released into their community, it has emerged.

A leaked letter revealed that politicians are being asked by the Government to sign an astonishing secrecy contract.

Why are they telling MPs about it, if they aren’t supposed to tell anyone else?

The Ministry of Justice says that, unless MPs sign the code of silence, they will be denied information about any dangerous criminals being freed into their constituency.

Again, for what purpose?

To ensure they are housed well away from them?

Last night, shadow justice secretary Dominic Grieve slammed the secrecy clause.

He said: 'Managing the release of serious offenders is a difficult issue. But the government is trying to impose a blanket gag on MPs doing their job, in return for being kept informed of dangerous offenders released into their constituencies.

'The scheme is unenforceable, but it is still surprising that Ministers would expand it in this way, without advance consultation or thinking through the implications.

'At a time when the government is releasing thousands of dangerous offenders early - having undermined the probation service’s ability to supervise them properly - this measure will only further weaken public confidence.'

You know, Dominic, I think you are on a hiding to nothing if you think that public confidence can possibly be weakened further…

The letter, circulated among MPs last week, says the gagging clause will relate to so-called Critical Public Protection Cases - which include the worst offenders in the country.

In almost all cases, the criminal is assessed as presenting a very high risk of serious harm.

There is considered to be 'an imminent risk of serious harm on release from prison'.

In which case, why the hell are they being let out of prison?

And why are no MPs asking this question, instead of bleating about secrecy codes?