Jon Venables, one of the two boys convicted of the shocking murder of two-year-old James Bulger in 1993, is once again at the center of national debate as he prepares for his latest parole review. Venables, who was just 10 years old when he and Robert Thompson abducted and killed James in Bootle, Merseyside, could be released from prison as soon as this autumn if his request for parole is granted, according to multiple reports including BBC and The Sun.
The case of James Bulger’s murder remains one of the most distressing and widely discussed criminal cases in recent British history. On February 12, 1993, Venables and Thompson led the toddler away from the Strand shopping centre, ultimately torturing and killing him near a railway line. The brutality of the crime, coupled with the age of the perpetrators, stunned the nation and led to a fierce debate about crime, punishment, and rehabilitation.
After serving eight years, both Venables and Thompson were released on licence in 2001, granted lifelong anonymity to protect them from public retribution. While Thompson has not reoffended since his release, Venables’ story has been markedly different. As reported by BBC, Venables was recalled to prison in February 2010 after indecent images of children were found on his computer—a clear breach of his parole conditions. He was released again in August 2013, only to be recalled in November 2017 for a similar offence involving child abuse images.
Venables’ repeated breaches have fueled public outrage and deepened the pain felt by James Bulger’s family. His most recent parole review was held in September 2020, but his application was rejected after an assessment. In December 2023, a Parole Board panel again refused him parole, ruling that he posed a risk to the public and had not been honest with probation officials. According to The Sun, the panel concluded he continued to be a danger to children and could go on to reoffend.
Despite these setbacks, Venables was recently granted another chance to apply for parole. The hearing—expected to take place in October 2025—could see him freed within months if the board is convinced he no longer poses a significant risk. The process, according to a Parole Board spokesperson quoted by BBC, is rigorous and thorough: “Decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community. A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims.”
The spokesperson further emphasized, “Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing. Evidence from witnesses such as probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements may be given at the hearing. It is standard for the prisoner and witnesses to be questioned at length during the hearing, which often lasts a full day or more. Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.”
The news of Venables’ impending parole review has reignited anger and anxiety among James Bulger’s family and the wider public. In March 2024, Members of Parliament were urged to initiate a public inquiry into the murder following a petition that garnered 213,000 signatures. The petition called for answers about why Venables was freed in the first place and allowed to commit further crimes. As reported by The Sun and BBC, James Bulger’s parents, Denise Fergus and her ex-husband Ralph Bulger, are furious at the prospect of Venables’ release. They are preparing statements to the Parole Board, arguing vehemently that their son’s killer should remain behind bars.
A source close to the family, quoted by The Sun, expressed their frustration: “It is outrageous he is getting another shot at freedom—how many chances does he need? If ever there was a case where they should throw away the key, surely this is it. The family have been assured he will be dealt with as a ‘high-risk’ case and it will take a lot to see him freed. But it is still a huge concern that he is allowed to re-apply so quickly. Denise and Ralph are angry and anxious.”
The sense of injustice felt by the Bulger family is echoed by many in the public, who question how someone with Venables’ history of reoffending can be considered for release yet again. The repeated pattern—release, reoffend, recall—has led to calls for a more stringent system, particularly in cases involving high-profile or especially heinous crimes. The parole system, however, is designed to be impartial and evidence-based, focusing on the present risk rather than past notoriety.
Officials from the Parole Board have consistently stressed that public safety is paramount. The process involves a detailed examination of the prisoner’s behavior in custody, psychological evaluations, and assessments of whether the risk posed can be managed in the community. Victim impact statements—such as those being prepared by Denise Fergus and Ralph Bulger—are also taken into account. The hearing itself is described as exhaustive, often lasting a full day or more, with the prisoner and witnesses subjected to in-depth questioning.
Meanwhile, Robert Thompson, Venables’ accomplice, has not reoffended since his release in 2001. His ability to avoid further criminal behavior has been cited by some as evidence that rehabilitation is possible, even in the most extreme cases. Yet, Venables’ repeated failures have cast a long shadow over the system’s handling of child offenders and the question of whether lifelong anonymity and periodic reviews serve justice or undermine it.
The Bulger case continues to provoke strong emotions and difficult questions about crime, punishment, and redemption. As the next parole hearing approaches, all eyes will be on the Parole Board and the arguments presented by both sides. Will Venables finally convince authorities that he can safely rejoin society, or will the weight of his past—and the pain he has caused—keep him behind bars?
For the Bulger family and many others, the coming months will be a tense and anxious wait, with the hope that their voices will be heard and public safety will remain the foremost concern.
