HOME Secretary David Blunkett could come face-to-face with the families of murder victims at a criminal justice conference being held in the North-East next year.

The minister is the latest high-profile figure to be invited to address the North of England Victims Association's (NEVA) annual conference.

This year's event, held in South Shields, South Tyneside, attracted Criminal Justice Minister Lord Falconer and the parents of Damilola Taylor and Sarah Payne.

NEVA chairman David Hines said: "It is the biggest conference in the UK for victims of homicide and I would be disappointed if he does not attend.

"I am also inviting representatives of American victims' organisations to attend the conference next time round."

The Home Office said that Lord Falconer, who was yesterday sworn in as the new Lord Chancellor following a cabinet reshuffle, had found the NEVA conference "useful and beneficial" and Mr Blunkett would be considering the request - diary commitments permitting.

Meanwhile, Mr Blunkett has been backed by victims' families in a row with Lord Woolf, the Lord Chief Justice.

Lord Woolf was recently quoted as saying the Home Secretary should lose his power to decide how long murderers should spend in prison before being considered for release.

Mr Hines, who has repeatedly called for life to mean life for murderers, said Lord Woolf was now "public enemy number one". He said: "He has chosen to think of the un-elected judges who are not accountable for their actions, which in many cases have hurt the victim, are unjust, and unacceptable to the people of this nation."

Joan Graham, from Fenham, Newcastle, whose 33-year-old daughter Denise Maudlin was murdered 11 years ago after having her throat cut in a drunken row, said: "Does (Lord Woolf) realise what parents go through when their child is taken away from them and the torment and anguish they go through when the killer is then allowed back on the streets?"