NEVER TO BE SET FREE; Secret list of Britain's 27 most terrifying criminals condemned to die in jail.

Byline: JEREMY ARMSTRONG

THESE are the faces of some of Britain's most evil criminals who are considered so dangerous they will never be freed from jail.

The hard-core collection of murderers, tortures and rapists makes up a top secret list of prisoners the Home Office have decreed should languish behind bars until they die.

It includes some of the most notorious killers in our criminal history such as Moors murderers Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, Rose West, and Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe.

But also among them are some lesser known murderers who will never walk free.

A Home Office insider said last night: "The people on the list have only one real hope of getting out of jail. That is death.

"They are considered the worst of the worst. Too dangerous to ever release."

Copies of the "Not For Release" list are kept deep in Whitehall's vaults.

They can only be accessed by Home Secretary Jack Straw, civil service head Sir Richard Wilson and Prison Service deputy chief Phil Wheatley. No prisoner on it can be moved without authorisation from Sir Richard.

The NFR file is not officially acknowledged outside the Prison Service. There has been much speculation about the names on it.

But now The Mirror has obtained the list of 29 men and women who will never again be free to walk our streets.

The insider added: "The file cannot be officially acknowledged but it is there for a reason, to make sure these people never get out." The list has been passed down to each Home Secretary since its introduction in the 1960s.

Technically, it contravenes EU laws on prisoners' rights and should not be held. But it is maintained by all parties when they come to power.

The insider said: "It would be political suicide to release those on it."

Introduced when the death penalty was abolished, it guarantees permanent incarceration for those who pose "an enduring risk to the community or state security".

The only escape is through the judicial process of an appeal on new evidence, or via the European Court of Human Rights which Hindley used in a vain attempt for freedom.

Secret plans had been drawn up to take her to Canada and let her live out her days in an "Old People's Village". But her appeal efforts failed and she still faces spending the rest of her life in jail.

Hindley is joined on the file by just two other women - Angel of Death Beverley Allitt, and House of Horrors killer Rose West.

One recent addition to the gruesome list is killer GP Harold Shipman.

Another is Adewale Odubawo, Britain's youngest serial rapist, jailed six weeks ago for as string of attacks. The appearance of East End gangsters the Kray twins would have solved Reggie's question as to why he wasn't released as soon as his 30-year sentence was up.

In his last interview before his death last year, he said he could never understand why he had been kept locked up.

Reggie, brother of Ronnie who died in jail, secured a release on humanitarian grounds due to cancer. He had served 33 years for murder. There are some notable omissions from the file, including Jeremy Bamber.

The 36-year-old is appealing against his conviction for shooting his sister "Bambi," her two children and his adoptive parents to death at their farmhouse in Essex, to get a pounds 500,000 inheritance. He was caged for life in 1986.

And the names of so-called political prisoners - including IRA terrorists - have been removed from the list due to the Good Friday peace agreement.

While many of the criminals on the file are infamous there are others most of us would scarcely have heard of.

Like Russell Bishop, convicted of a string of sex offences, Raymond L Morris, one of Britain's most notorious child killers when jailed 32 years ago and depraved torturer Anwar Islam who was locked up last year.

John Cannan, the convict long suspected of the abduction and murder of estate agent Suzy Lamplugh, also appears.

The average life sentence is only 12 to 15 years. There are around 4, 000 "lifers" in the system at any time out of a prison population of 65,000.

Charles Bronson

Britain's most notorious prisoner has spent 22 years in solitary. Charles Bronson Changed his name to that of US actor. Serving life for taking warden hostage.

Rose West

With husband Fred tortured murdered 10 women at their Gloucester home. Britain's worst woman serial killer. Fred hanged himself in jail.

Peter Sutcliffe

Yorkshire Ripper preyed on prostitutes and killed 13 women during five-year reign of terror in the 1970s. Sent to Broadmoor for life in 1981.

Robert Black

Driver who murdered Susan Maxwell, 11, Caroline Hogg, five and 10-year-old Sarah Harper after kidnapping them in his delivery van. Now 51.

Michael Ryan

Went on murder rampage with guns in Hungerford, Berkshire. Strolled around village taking potshots at innocent victims with rifle.

Michael Stone

Caged for murdering Lin and Megan Russell and trying to kill Lin's sister Josie. In jail awaiting retrial after Appeal Court Quashed convictions.

John Duffy

Raped and murdered women with David Mulcahy. Dubbed Thriller Killers after listening to Michael Jackson hit Thriller before carrying out attacks.

Keith Samuels

Britain's most wanted serial rapist committed a series of attacks from 1984 to 1990. Only caught after a tip off from hooker over dud check.

Clive Barwell

Got eight life sentences two years ago for abducting women motorists from city car parks and subjecting them to terrifying sex ordeals.

Ian Brady

Jailed for life with Myra Hindley for killing five children in 1960s. Jurors had to listen to one of their victim's pitiful cries while being tortured.

Raymond L Morris

Cannock Chase killer.One of Britain's most notorious child murderers. Locked up for life in 1969 for sex killing of seven-year-old girl. Now 71.

Denis Nilsen

Strangled and butchered young men, mostly gays, at his London flat for sexual kicks. Hid remains under floor and in drains. Got life in 1983.

Anwar Islam

Torturer jailed for life last year for battering student Johanne Powel, 18, to death after she jilted him. Attacked her with fists, feet, hammer and knives.

Harold Shipman

GP and Britain's biggest mass murderer convicted last year of killing 15 patients. But official report reveals he may have murdered up to 345.

Adelawe Odubawo

The country's youngest serial rapist was jailed for life this year for a series of violent sex attacks and robberies when he was just 14. Now 17.

John Cannan

Killer linked to the murder of missing estate agent Suzy Lamplugh after ex girlfriend claimed he'd confessed to killing her. He denies this.

Richaard Baker

Serial rapist who drugged his victims before attacks. Now 36, he carried out the vile assaults while working at a hotel in Torremolinos.

MYRA HINDLEY, 57

Sadistic Moors murderer jailed for life with Ian Brady in 1966 after killing five children. She continues to fight for her freedom.

COLIN IRELAND, 46

Given five life sentences in 1993 for a murder campaign against homosexuals. The obsessed killer selected his victims at a London gay pub.

BEVERLY ALLITT

Nurse dubbed "Angel of Death" after murdering four children and injuring nine others in her care. Given 13 life sentences in 1993.

RUSSELL BISHOP, 29

Cleared of Brighton's Babes In The Woods murders. Four years later, he was convicted of the Devil's Dyke sex kidnap of a seven-year-old.

KENNETH ERSKIN

The Stockwell Strangler who throttled seven old folk in their beds. Given a minimum 40-year sentence in 1988, Britain's longest jail term for murder.

DONALD NEILSON

So-called Black Panther - now 63 - given four life sentences in 1976 for killing heiress Lesley Whittle and three sub-postmasters.

JOHN STRAFFEN

Sent to Broadmoor in 1951 for strangling two girls. Escaped and murdered a schoolgirl. Reprieved from death setence 1952. He is now 71.

ANTHONY ROWLEY

Raped a lawyer in her home while young son stood by. Got life last year. Described by judge as "devious, manipulative and dangerous"