The Prime Minister has "personally intervened" to urgently identify grooming gang offenders who may still qualify for early prison release, amid growing concerns over a potential loophole in the system.
A spokesperson insisted on Thursday that Andy Burnham has "personally intervened" to ensure that "everything possible is being done so that vile groomers are dealt with in the way their victims deserve."
Scope of Exemptions Questioned
Around 5,000 prisoners are expected to be freed early under sentencing reforms, reduced from 6,000 after ministers excluded rapists and "serious" child sex offenders from the scheme, which was introduced to address severe overcrowding in jails.
However, critics have called into question the scope of the exemptions after The Times revealed that some men convicted in connection with historical grooming gang cases could be amongst those released under the proposals.
Some of the offending occurred prior to sexual abuse legislation being overhauled in 2003, with perpetrators having been charged with offences including indecent assault, which falls outside the exclusions to the scheme set to begin in October.
Political Reaction
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch wrote to Mr Burnham on Wednesday demanding clarification over which offences would qualify for early release, accusing the Government of "yet another betrayal of the victims."
In a statement on Thursday, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister said: "As part of the review of sentences, the Prime Minister asked the Ministry of Justice to conduct an in-depth review of cases to ensure that grooming cases were identified.
"This work is happening urgently. This is extremely important to the PM and he has personally intervened to ensure everything possible is being done so that vile groomers are dealt with in the way their victims deserve."
Mrs Badenoch responded: "Another U-turn secured ... and another review from Burnham following my letter."
She added: "How many more reviews do we need before Andy Burnham does the commonsense thing and bans all of these monsters from early release?"
Badenoch calls for legislation to stop early release of prisoners.
"The brave survivors have been put through hell by this process. They deserve so much better."
Andrew Harper Killers
Elsewhere, the Government has resisted pressure to exempt two of Pc Andrew Harper's killers from early release, as the head of his former force considers joining a potential legal challenge over the plans.
The scheme could see Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers freed halfway through their 13-year sentences for manslaughter following the officer's death in 2019.
Pc Harper sustained fatal injuries after getting caught in a strap attached to the back of a car and being dragged along a country road as the killers fled the scene of a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire.
Henry Long, the driver of the vehicle, was handed a 16-year sentence and will not be eligible for release under the scheme.
Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Jason Hogg confirmed he was seeking legal advice on whether the force could join a legal challenge, proposed by local Police Federation chief Aileen O'Connor, aimed at preventing Cole and Bowers from being freed.
The Prime Minister has said he wanted to "go further" with the exemptions following his order for a review of the scheme, however this was "not possible without the prison system reaching capacity and collapsing".
Those who are released will face tougher probation conditions, including electronic monitoring, random drug testing and possible bans from driving, pubs and events such as football matches.
The changes formed part of the Sentencing Act passed earlier this year, which reduced the minimum period many offenders must serve behind bars.
