Andy Burnham has faced criticism from the widow of PC Andrew Harper over delays to ending early prison releases. Lissie Harper expressed her anger that her husband's killers will be freed after the Prime Minister postponed plans to halt the scheme.
Changes to prison release scheme
The new Prime Minister has confirmed that rape, serious child sex offences, and grooming will be excluded from upcoming cuts to prison sentences. Initially, the plan was to stop early releases in September, but this has been delayed by a month.
Mr Burnham stated he "wanted to go even further" but said it was not possible without the prison system collapsing, which would put the public "at much greater risk." He assured the public that offenders will face tighter community supervision, including GPS monitoring for rapists.
Reaction from Lissie Harper
Lissie Harper said she is "beyond appalled and bristling with anger" that her husband's killers are soon to be released. She described the decision as "disgusting" and an "utter betrayal," adding that it sends an "abhorrent message" and shows "disrespect" to victims.
Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Jason Hogg also criticized the decision, calling it "demoralising for all police officers."
Victims' Commissioner response
Victims' Commissioner Claire Waxman said the early release plans have caused "shock, distress, and uncertainty" for victims, with many let down by "poor communication." She noted that while some victims may welcome the exclusions, they alone cannot guarantee safety.
Details of the sentencing changes
Under the Sentencing Act changes, around 6,000 offenders were set to be released in September after serving a third of their sentence, rather than half. Prisoners with sentences of four years or more would be released at the halfway point instead of two-thirds.
The changes also introduce a progression model to end automatic release for badly behaved offenders, who could face spending 100% of their sentence in prison. The government has added rapists and child sexual offenders to existing exclusions, which already cover 18,000 offenders, including the most dangerous and those serving life sentences.
Mr Burnham also announced plans for "the fastest prison building programme since the Victorian era," aiming to create 14,000 new prison places by 2031.
