MORE than 30 years after the murder of Helen McCourt, a new law could be passed in her memory in order to force killers to reveal where their victims' bodies lie.

If passed, Helen's Law would mean that murderers who refuse to disclose where they have disposed of a body will never be released from prison.

Justice secretary David Gauke has now announced that the Government is preparing legislation that would see this law implemented.

It follows years of campaigning from Helen's mum Marie, the 22-year-old insurance clerk having been murdered on her way home from work one evening in 1988.

Warrington Guardian:

Marie McCourt

But her body has never been found – although several key pieces of evidence found along the Manchester Ship Canal in Hollins Green pointing to Rixton Claypits as being a possible location of where her body lies.

Murderer Ian Simms has never told police where he dumped Helen's remains, despite now being allowed to spend one weekend a month out of prison on licence.

Birmingham City University criminologist Professor Elizabeth Yardely, who had supported the Helen's Law campaign, said: "The announcement is a significant step forwards in dragging our archaic criminal justice system into the 21st century.

"The changes prompted by the campaign for Helen's Law will ensure that individuals convicted of homicide offences who refuse to reveal what they did with their victim's bodies will no longer be able to torture their victim's families and be granted parole.

"The reforms are testament to the tenacity of campaigners like Marie McCourt, who have selflessly channelled their own trauma into demands for change.

Warrington Guardian:

Professor Elizabeth Yardley and Marie McCourt

"People were horrified when I told them why we needed Helen's Law, they just assumed that an offender would never be released in such circumstances.

"The changes that are afoot show that when we do draw attention to gaps and shortfalls and shout loudly enough, change can happen."

Helen disappeared on February 9 1988 after getting off the bus 200 yards away from her family home in Billinge, having travelled home from work in Liverpool.

Her walk home took her past the George and Dragon pub where Simms was landlord.

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Warrington Guardian: Ian Simms (55517781)

Ian Simms

He was unanimously found guilty of Helen's murder in 1989 – becoming the first murderer convicted using DNA evidence when no body had been found – and was ordered to serve at least 16 years behind bars.

Nearly 600,000 people signed a petition calling for Helen's Law to be introduced in the UK.

Professor Yardely added: "An important part of this process involves being open and honest about your offence and letting go of the need to exercise control by keeping the secret of what you did with the victim's body.

"Any offender who does not do so is someone who is not committed to change, and by implication will continue to pose a risk to others.

"They may not go on to kill anyone when they are released, but they will certainly continue to spend their lives manipulating, coercing and hurting others.

"These are not the kind of people we want in our communities.

"By tightening up the process around granting parole to convicted homicide offenders, we limit opportunities for offenders to do further harm, we better protect the public and we provide a real opportunity for change and rehabilitation."