James Bulger was abducted from a shopping centre in Bootle Jon Venables, one of the killers of James Bulger, must not be "prejudged" by speculation over allegations he faces, ministers have said. Venables, now 27, is back in jail after breaching the terms of his 2001 release in which he was given a new identity. The Sunday Mirror alleged his recall to prison was linked to images of child abuse, but Ed Balls and Harriet Harman refused to be drawn on these claims. James's mother has said Venables should lose his anonymity if charged. The Sunday Mirror also claims that Venables had sparked concerns by using drugs and revealing his past. Justice Secretary Jack Straw would only say that he faces "extremely serious allegations" and the government was determined to ensure that justice was done. I don't want to prejudge any court case and I think it's really important the media and politicians don't prejudge

Ed Balls, Children's Minister

Venables 'should be identified' Every parent's nightmare Labour's Deputy Leader, Harriet Harman, told the BBC the government would not be drawn on the report. "I'm not saying whether it's true or not because I don't want to comment on it," she said. "At the time that Venables was sentenced, it was said that he should keep his anonymity and, as a general principle, we want to make absolutely sure that nobody can get off a criminal offence by saying 'I can't get a fair trial, there's been too much publicity'." The stance was backed by Children's Secretary Ed Balls, who said it was important to ensure the public was protected. "It was a terrible crime, the scars of James Bulger's death are very deep for his family, [and] for all of us," he told Sky News. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. "It was right for people to try rehabilitation but the first thing always has to be making sure the public are safe. "Now you'll understand I'm not going to say anything about this case because I don't want to prejudge any court case and I think it's really important the media and politicians don't prejudge and therefore potentially put at risk any further court action." James's mother Denise Fergus, 42, is due to meet Jack Straw next week to press him on the reasons for Venables' recall. But Mr Straw is not expected to divulge the reasons. Venables' solicitor at the time of his trial, Laurence Lee, blamed the Ministry of Justice for creating what he called the "speculation show". 'Serious questions' "If they'd come clean and give us some information about what he'd done this wouldn't be happening now," he told BBC Radio 5 live. "I think if we'd been at least drip fed some information this wild speculation wouldn't have gone out of control like it has now." Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling said he was more concerned about newspaper reports of Venables' activities than discovering the allegations he faced. "This is somebody who has been released from prison, who is supposed to be on licence, is supposed to be under the control of the probation bodies," he told Sky News. "Something has gone wrong here and there will certainly be serious questions to be asked." Venables, alongside Robert Thompson, served eight years for the murder of two-year-old James. Both boys became the UK's youngest murderers, as 10-year-olds, after abducting James from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, in February 1993. His battered body was later found by children playing on a freight railway line more than two miles away.



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