Prime Minister Andy Burnham has paused plans to release prisoners early in September to ease overcrowding, and the scheme will now be delayed until October. The move follows an urgent review of the prisoner release scheme, prompted by public anger and concerns from victims.
Exclusions and Tougher Supervision
Under the revised plans, offenders sentenced for rape, serious child sex offences, and grooming will be excluded from the early release changes. Mr Burnham said he "wanted to go even further" but that it is not possible without the prison system collapsing, which would put public safety "at much greater risk".
To address concerns, the Government will introduce tougher community measures, including a presumption that all offenders are tagged, longer supervision periods, and restriction zones for offenders. Rapists will also face new GPS monitoring to restrict their movements.
Impact on Prisoners and Victims
Under the Sentencing Act changes, around 6,000 offenders were set to be released in September after serving a third of their sentence instead of half. The changes were due to be phased in, starting with prisoners serving less than 575 days. However, the Government has now excluded rapists and child sexual offenders, adding to existing exclusions for 18,000 offenders, including the most dangerous and those serving life sentences.
The Government has also announced a £10 million package to provide better trauma-informed support for victims, a new national helpline, and efforts to contact all affected victims. Additionally, the Prime Minister has asked Justice Secretary Alex Norris to review how to remove more foreign offenders faster, review IPP sentences, and free up space in women's prisons.
Reactions and Criticism
Justice Secretary Alex Norris 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."
Shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy criticised the move, saying: "Labour whipped their MPs to vote to let rapists, paedophiles, and grooming gang perpetrators out of prison early. Now they admit the Conservative campaign to stop this was right – this is a victory for victims. But their U-turn doesn't go far enough."
Reform UK's home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf echoed this, stating: "This announcement will still result in dangerous and violent offenders being let loose on our streets and it fails to bring justice to the family of Pc Andrew Harper."
The widow of Pc Andrew Harper, Lissie Harper, expressed her anger, saying: "This is disgusting. I am beyond appalled and bristling with anger to hear that Andrew's killers are soon to be free to roam the streets."
Victims' Commissioner Claire Waxman noted that early release plans have "been a source of shock, distress and uncertainty for victims", but added that delaying implementation to October was a "necessary step". Domestic Abuse Commissioner Dame Nicole Jacobs said not excluding domestic abusers is "wrong and puts victims lives at risk".
The Government has also announced plans for "the fastest prison building programme since the Victorian era", aiming to create 14,000 new prison places by 2031.
