Lisa Squire visiting Parliament to get tougher punishments for 'low-level' sexual offenders
Lisa's daughter Libby was raped and murdered in Hull in 2019
The mum of murdered Hull student Libby Squire, from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, is taking her fight for harsher punishments for so-called 'low-level' sexual offences to Parliament.
Libby Squire was raped and murdered in 2019 after being separated from her friends on a night out in Hull.
Her killer, Pawel Relowicz had already spent months committing non-contact sexual offences, which came to light following Libby's disappearance, when several women came forward to report crimes.
"...they are red flags and these men are dangerous men."
Libby's mum Lisa said: "In my daughter's case, his escalation was quite scary when you actually look at it, he went from seemingly 'low-level' exposure to rape and murder within 18 months."
"I really want to bring that fact to Parliament, they are red flags and these men are dangerous men."
Lisa Squire has been fighting for years to help protect women and girls.
She will give evidence at the Home Affairs Select Committee today (21 February) as MPs look into whether enough is being done to protect women and girls from sexual offenders who escalate to more serious crimes.
"He really did touch on all areas of non-contact sexual offences and ramped up within a very short period of time to rape and murder"
She told Greatest Hits Radio what she is hoping could come out of her meeting with government officials: "I'm hoping to raise awareness to non-contact sexual offences potentially becoming far more serious, and I'm hoping to open the governments eyes to it and furthering that message about reporting."
"I'm hoping that the government will recognise the non-contact sexual offences as the red flags they really are, and how they can escalate."
In Libby's case, the defendant had no previous criminal record, however the bravery of a number of women shed a light on a history of sexual offences prior to her murder.
"He really did touch on all areas of non-contact sexual offences and ramped up within a very short period of time to rape and murder", added Lisa.
Lisa has also campaigned for tougher sentences for serious offenders including those committing sexual crimes.
Last year, she welcomed plans to see those committing murder with a sexual or sadistic motive receive a whole life sentence with no parole- meaning they would spend the rest of their lives behind bars.
The Home Affairs Select Committee will also take evidence from law, criminology and criminal justice professors.