Stoken: Winston Silcott has enjoyed his first day out of prison in 16 years as he takes the first steps to release.o

Silcott, jailed for the murder of PC Keith Blakelock in the 1985 Broadwater Farm riots but cleared on appeal, is serving a life sentence for killing boxer Anthony Smith at a party in Hackney in 1984. He claimed it was in self defence.

He is now classed as a Category C prisoner at Stoken in Leicestershire and last month he was allowed out with a prison officer for a shopping trip.

A Prison Service spokeswoman said: "Town visits are an important part of familiarising prisoners who have served a long time with the outside world.

"They are thoroughly risk assessed before they go on such visits."

It is likely that Silcott will have several more town visits before his parole board review which is set to be held in the New Year.

If approved, he would be sent to an open prison where he would have to spend at least 18 months prior to full release.

According to his friend Delroy Lindo, who lives in Hornsey and heads the Police Crimes Against Civilians campaign group, Silcott has not had any thoughts about what he would do in the outside world.

The pair have been friends for years and in the 80s they ran a mobile disco called the Galaxy Soul Shuttle. Silcott lived at Broadwater Farm and ran a greengrocers on the estate.

On his friend's day out Mr Lindo said: "It happens to people every day and they do not make a big issue of it.

"He's done his time. There should not be a problem with someone being rehabilitated."

Mr Lindo added that Silcott is "well aware" of the publicity his release would generate.

Silcott, who spoke exclusively to the Haringey Independent from Maidstone Prison three years ago, has vowed to grow his beard now over 3ft long until his release.

A team of 35 Scotland Yard detectives are reinvestigating the murder of PC Blakelock after the case was re-opened in January 1999.

November 22, 2001 15:30