It was true. Gillard could hear some poor sod getting the mother and father of all bollockings. It was unusual for Rigby to shout. With her intimidating height, she rarely needed to. She was quite capable of reducing officers to quivering wrecks with a quiet word here and there. The slam of the phone receiver was followed by a shouted, ‘Craig, get yourself in here.’

Gillard took a deep breath and opened the door. Rigby immediately fixed him with her dazzling blue eyes. ‘I’m afraid we’re in crisis management mode here. As you know, Neville Rollason, multiple murderer, was released today under licence. It seems the bloody probation service has managed to lose him already. And as you had already guessed, he was released on our patch.’

‘He’s got a new identity, hasn’t he? Are we allowed to know it yet?’

‘No. Well, not yet. The probation service says yes, but the Home Office is dithering. They think that if the project has gone tits-up already, they’ll never again be able to create a new identity for an offender. Which in turn would mean that some high-profile offenders can never be released.’

‘I’m sure many people would applaud that,’ Gillard said.

‘Yes indeed, but it’s been obvious for years that it can’t continue. Prisons are universities of crime, turning out skilled criminals at an expense to the British taxpayer that would make an Oxbridge vice chancellor blush.’

‘That’s a good summary, ma’am.’

‘So that’s why the Home Secretary is desperate to be able to create some high-profile rehabilitation success stories, so we can continue to move lifers out of the system.’

‘Ah, now I catch the drift.’

‘Yes, Craig. There are only two ways to save money from the public purse in criminal justice. Execution or release.’ She shuffled through her papers and sighed heavily before looking up. ‘I’m not advocating the former, unlike some.’

‘I can’t do anything much, ma’am, until I know a name.’

She fixed him again with the blue stare of death. ‘I’ve got the name, Craig, obviously. I’ve known from the start. But once it’s out, it’s out. Even if I mandate a total PR blackout, his new name will still leak within an hour. Look, I’m aware how the rank and file feel about people like Rollason. It wouldn’t surprise me if one or two have contacts with vigilante groups.’

‘I’m not sure,’ Gillard said cautiously.

‘It’s all right, I’m not asking for a list. Ideally as this is Special Branch’s screw-up, it should be up to them to find him, and quickly. But having just roasted Graham Morgan, I don’t have much hope they are up to it. You, however, might be.’

‘I’m touched by your faith in me, ma’am.’