More than 30 convicted killers went on to kill again after being released from prison between 2000/1 and 2010/11, according to Home Office statistics.
The figures show that 29 people with homicide convictions subsequently committed murder, while six committed manslaughter. Of the 29 murderers, 13 had previously been convicted of murder and 16 of manslaughter. The report also noted one prisoner killed again while still in jail for his first victim.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said the decision to release life sentence prisoners is solely for the Independent Parole Board. Life sentence prisoners remain on licence for the rest of their lives and can be recalled to custody if they show evidence of increasing risk of serious harm to the public. The most serious sexual and violent offenders are managed under the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA), where police, probation and prison services work together to assess and manage risk.
The government maintains it does everything it can to protect the public from offenders, but added that 'sadly risk can never be eliminated entirely'.
The report comes as the number of killings recorded by police in England and Wales rose to 636 in the 12 months to March 2011, up from 608 the previous year. Of those killed, two-thirds were men. A total of 60 were shot, including two by a crossbow, and 232 were killed by a sharp instrument. More than three-quarters of women knew the main suspect in their murder, compared with just over half of men.
Separately, police figures released on Thursday showed overall crime in England and Wales fell by 4% in the year to September 2011.
