Tragic schoolgirl Alice Gross wrote an essay in support of free movement within the EU before she is believed to have been killed by a convicted Latvian murder, it has been revealed.

Alice wrote about the benefits of European migration and discussed the push to keep foreign criminals out of Britain, saying such a move could 'reintroduce the idea of racism'.

Just three months later, the 14-year-old is thought to have been killed by Arnis Zalkalns, who was able to 'come and go' across the UK border despite a conviction for stabbing his wife to death in his homeland.

Tragic schoolgirl Alice Gross, pictured right, wrote an essay in support of free movement within the EU before she is believed to have been killed by convicted Latvian murder Arnis Zalkalns, pictured left

The essay was released by Alice's parents, Rosalind Hodgkiss and Jose Gross, and seen by the Guardian.

The schoolgirl wrote: 'Personally, I believe that the United Kingdom should remain a member of the EU as it allows our country to be considered a communal and friendly country.

Addressing Ukip's call to have foreign criminals banned from Britain, she wrote: 'I believe that this takes away the concept of equality amongst the community by implying that criminals don’t deserve the same rights everyone else has.

'It also depicts Britain to believe foreign criminals are different and dangerous compared to the British criminals, reintroducing the idea of racism.'

In an interview with the newspaper, the couple said they had decided to share their daughter's words because they had been alarmed at how Alice had been used by anti-immigration groups and Brexiteers to further their arguments.

An inquest into Alice's death was told how Zalkalns, a father of two, arrived in Britain in 2007.

Alice's parents Jose Gross and Rosalind Hodgkiss shared their daughter's words because they had been alarmed at how Alice had been used by anti-immigration groups and Brexiteers to further their arguments. Pictured, the couple outside court following the conclusion to the inquest into Alice's death

He had only just been released from prison for murdering his wife Rudite - who he stabbed to death in remote woodlands and buried in a shallow grave - but went unchecked.

During the inquest, the Home Office policy chief for criminal records admitted that it had not been policy to monitor every entrant into the UK at the time Zalkalns arrived.

ALICE'S THOUGHTFUL WORDS ON IMMIGRATION AND THE EU The essay was released by Alice's parents, Rosalind Hodgkiss and Jose Gross, and seen by the Guardian. The schoolgirl wrote: 'Personally, I believe that the United Kingdom should remain a member of the EU as it allows our country to be considered a communal and friendly country. Addressing Ukip's call to have foreign criminals banned from Britain, she wrote: 'I believe that this takes away the concept of equality amongst the community by implying that criminals don’t deserve the same rights everyone else has. 'It also depicts Britain to believe foreign criminals are different and dangerous compared to the British criminals, reintroducing the idea of racism.' Advertisement

David Cheesman also admitted that, even if checks were carried out, they would not have been thorough enough to unearth Zalkalns' prison sentence.

The builder also had a string of other convictions, including for firearms offences, sexual assault and spreading a sexual disease.

Mr Cheesman said criminals are only put on a 'watch list' if convictions are reported to Interpol.

He said: 'If we are not given that information under the current system it isn't until the first time he comes into the custody suite, however minor the offence, that the check will be made.'

Two years after his arrival, he was arrested when a 14-year-old said he indecently assaulted her in Brentford in 2009.

She refused to give evidence and police failed to check his convictions in Latvia. He was released without charge.

But the hearing was told that, had they have performed the Association of Criminal Records Office (ACRO) check, officers would have uncovered his murderous past.

Instead, he was left him free to pounce on Alice in a suspected ‘opportunistic’ sexual assault which led to the biggest search operation by the Met Police since the 7/7 bombings.

Speaking after the hearing, Alice's parents called for 'targeted reform' of the system for exchanging information about high-risk offenders across Europe, after the inquest exposed serious inadequacies. Pictured the couple with daughter Nina outside the inquest

Alice's body was found in the River Brent on September 30 2014, after she disappeared from her home in Hanwell, west London.

Zalkalns was discovered hanged in a park on October 4 and police said he would have been charged with Alice's murder had he been alive.

Alice Gross defended free-movement within the European Union

After the jury returned with a conclusion of unlawful killing, coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox read out a list of recommendations she is likely to make to the Home Office following the case.

They include the mandatory checking of foreign nationals after they are arrested by British police forces.

Speaking after the hearing, Alice's parents called for 'targeted reform' of the system for exchanging information about high-risk offenders across Europe, after the inquest exposed serious inadequacies.

Mr Gross stressed that is family was in favour of freedom of movement, saying: 'We do not believe that any citizen deserves to be treated differently based on their race or nationality.'

But he added: 'Our only concern has been to ensure that there are fair and proportionate rules governing the movement of serious criminals within Europe, whether that is a Latvian coming to the UK or a dangerous UK citizen travelling abroad.

'We believe that had such measures been in place, Alice's death might have been prevented.'

Mr Gross added: ‘It has taken us almost two years to get to this point. We are pleased the coroner is likely to make a series of recommendations to the Home Office to reflect our concerns.’

Alice's mother Ms Hodgkiss said: 'I still find it almost impossible to believe that our lovely daughter has been so brutally taken from us.