The family of Maya Chappell have welcomed Andy Burnham's announcement that rapists, serious child sex offenders and groomers will be excluded from upcoming cuts to prison sentences. However, Maya's great aunt Gemma Chappell says the plans 'don't go far enough'.
Family's reaction
Two-year-old Maya died after being violently shaken by her mother's boyfriend, Michael Daymond, at her home in Shotton Colliery in 2022. Daymond was jailed for life and Maya's mum, Dana Carr, was locked up for nine years after being found guilty of child cruelty by neglect and allowing the death of a child.
Gemma says that the family were told on Monday that the change will "affect" Dana Carr, but it is not yet clear how. In July, they told ChronicleLive of their devastation that Carr could be released from prison early and last week, reaffirmed her belief that Carr should remain behind bars.
Gemma said: "We welcome the fact that they have gone as far as saying rapists and child sexual offenders don't come out. But I don't think they have made a holistic approach and looked at the bigger picture."
Government's stance
The scheme will be delayed until October, with the PM saying he "wanted to go even further," but it was not possible without the prison system collapsing and putting the public "at much greater risk." He assured the public that offenders will face tighter community supervision, including new GPS monitoring for rapists to restrict movements.
Gemma continued: "I think they need to look at it again. They have listened to the victims of these offenders, but not all victims."
"Letting serious offenders is at the cost of public and victims' safety. They have had these issues for years, it hasn't just come in 2024."
"It's been happening a lot longer than that, and they're only building prisons now. It's a complete failure from those in power."
"This cannot be the end of that conversation."
Changes to sentencing
Under changes in the Sentencing Act, some 6,000 offenders were set to be let out of prison in September after serving a third of their sentence – rather than half – in a bid to ease prison overcrowding. Prisoners serving longer sentences of four years or more would be eligible for release at the halfway point of their term, rather than at two-thirds as had previously been the case.
The changes were due to be phased in, beginning with prisoners of less than 575 days. The Government has said that, after listening to victims' concerns, rapists and child sexual offenders will not be eligible for the sentencing changes.
Alex Norris, Justice Secretary, said: "The Prime Minister and I have reviewed these reforms, listened to the concerns and gone further to protect victims. These are decisions no Minister would ever want to take but it is right these sickening crimes are excluded from these reforms."
"Victims will also have access to better support and reassurance that offenders leaving prison face tougher supervision and punishment."
