A killer who shot three police officers could be released from prison to live in Sussex this week.

Egon Von Bulow(COR) will be the first police murderer to be released from jail having been deemed safe to re-enter society by the independent Parole Board.

Von Bulow, known as the Jackboot Killer for his obsession with Nazis, was given three life sentences for shooting PC John Schofield to death in Caterham, Surrey, in July 1974 and wounding two other police officers.

Parole Board officials would not reveal whether Von Bulow will be housed in Sussex but said they always checked accommodation was secure before releasing life prisoners.

The move to release Von Bulow has been criticised by police unions.

Simon Reed, the vice-chairman of the Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, said: “It makes a complete mockery of our justice system.

“If the criminal justice system can consider releasing someone as vile, vicious and unrepentant as Von Bulow then they will consider releasing anyone.

“PC Schofield was brutally slain by this monster. Von Bulow was jailed for life three times over in 1975 and that should mean he spends the rest of his days behind bars.”

Police, probation and councils are likely to be informed of Von Bulow's release so that officials can keep an eye on serious violent offenders to protect members of the public from harm.

A spokesman for the Parole Board said: “A decision will be made about where a person goes after release but that will often be back to the area where they have roots.

“We would expect them to be in some sort of supervised accommodation and meeting regularly with an offender manager.”

A spokeswoman for the Probation Service said: “All life sentence prisoners are subject to probation supervision on release from prison.

They will have to adhere to a set of strict conditions and are subject to recall to custody for the rest of their lives if their behaviour indicates that it is no longer safe to allow them to remain in the community.”