Raab acted unlawfully, judge rules

Civil servants berated — though their advice to the justice secretary was right

Dominic Raab acted unlawfully in blocking the release of a notorious prisoner after political advisers working for the justice secretary complained that he had not been given enough time by officials to review her case, a High Court judge found on Friday. The ruling offers a rare insight into the treatment of senior civil servants at the Ministry of Justice.

Probation service officials were entirely vindicated in the judgment delivered by Mrs Justice Heather Williams. But, before Raab rejected their advice in August, special advisers working for the justice secretary asked the officials what “the plan is to ensure he’s never told about such a high-profile case so late again”.