The Conservatives have pressed Prime Minister Andy Burnham to introduce emergency legislation to halt the early release of serious offenders, including paedophiles and rapists. This would require recalling Parliament, as MPs are currently on summer recess.
Burnham pauses scheme after outcry
Mr Burnham paused the early release scheme last week and ordered a review following concerns raised by the family of police officer Andrew Harper over two of his killers being considered for early release. Under changes in the Sentencing Act, some 6,000 offenders were set to be released in September after serving a third of their sentence instead of half, in a bid to ease prison overcrowding. Reports have suggested that killers, rapists and sex offenders could be among those released, sparking widespread criticism.
Government review under way
Ordering the review, Mr Burnham said: “No prisoners will be let out under this policy until we have conducted an urgent review and done everything we can to minimise risk to the public.” The review is expected to report back within the “coming days and weeks”, according to housing minister Sally Jameson.
Tories demand tougher action
The Tories have claimed the review does not go far enough and that a change in law is needed to prevent the release of dangerous offenders. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: “Andy Burnham must prove he is serious by acting now to stop Labour’s early release scheme. Instead, in an echo of Starmer, he has announced another Government review. It’s not good enough. Without emergency legislation, dangerous, violent and sexual offenders will be released at the start of September. “The Conservatives have fought this dangerous scheme from day one. It’s all well and good cutting bills and bus fares, but that pales into insignificance when paedophiles and rapists are about to be let out on our streets. Burnham needs to show us he’s ready to take the tough decisions.”
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