A REVIEW of papers containing reports and photofits of attacks on women which might be linked to the Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe is being carried out by West Yorkshire Police.

The previously unpublished documents were part of report by Sir Lawrence Byford into the original police investigation over the Bradford lorry driver's reign of terror in the 1970s and early 1980s which saw him convicted in 1981 of 13 murders.

Sir Lawrence, a former chief inspector of constabulary, was asked by the Government in 1982 to review the case which led him to conclude that between 1969 and 1980 Sutcliffe was "probably responsible for many attacks on unaccompanied women".

Part of Sir Lawrence report was published in 2006 after a Freedom of Information request but the section about the other attacks was censored.

Today, a West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “West Yorkshire Police are continuing with an ongoing process to review ‘legacy’ (historic) documents, including material relating to the Yorkshire Ripper, in line with national guidance around the handling of information, and in conjunction with the Home Office under the requirements of the Public Records Act.

“Should any new lines of inquiry be identified, they will be comprehensively pursued.”

The Home Office is now considering a further FOI request to release the censored section of the Byford report once the police review is completed, subject to any new lines of investigation by police.

The news comes as Justice Secretary Michael Gove considers whether Sutcliffe, now 69, should be moved from top security Broadmoor Hospital, where he has been since 1984, to prison after it was found that his mental health had improved.