The prime minister has personally intervened to ensure that grooming gang perpetrators are not released early from prison under a scheme designed to ease overcrowding, after concerns emerged about a potential loophole.
About 5,000 people are expected to be released early under sentencing changes in England and Wales, down from 6,000 after ministers excluded grooming gang members, rapists, and serious child sex offenders. However, reports indicate that some men convicted in historical grooming gang cases could still be freed, as their offences, such as indecent assault, do not fall within the exclusions announced this week.
Urgent review ordered
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.”
The intervention follows pressure from MPs, victims, campaigners, and prison officers, leading to the suspension of the scheme in the second week of the prime minister's tenure. The government has faced criticism over the scope of exemptions, particularly for cases in Bradford where men convicted of assaulting children as part of historical investigations into Asian grooming gangs were not excluded.
Political fallout
Labour has blamed the Conservatives for creating the prison overcrowding crisis between 2010 and 2024 by increasing sentences without building enough jails. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch wrote to the prime minister demanding answers over eligible offences, accusing the government of “yet another betrayal of the victims”.
The scheme also faces legal challenges over the potential early release of two of PC Andrew Harper’s killers, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who could be freed halfway through their 13-year sentences. The Thames Valley police chief constable is considering joining a legal challenge to prevent their release.
The prime minister has said he wanted to “go further” with exemptions but that this was “not possible without the prison system reaching capacity and collapsing”. Those released early will face tougher probation conditions, including electronic monitoring, random drug testing, and possible bans from driving, pubs, and events.
