The Government is “urgently” identifying any grooming gang perpetrators who may still be eligible for early prison release, as concerns were raised about a potential loophole in the system. The Prime Minister has “personally intervened” to ensure that “everything possible is being done so that vile groomers are dealt with in the way their victims deserve”, a spokesperson said on Thursday.
Scope of exemptions questioned
Some 5,000 people are expected to be released early under sentencing changes, down from 6,000 after ministers excluded rapists and “serious” child sex offenders from the scheme designed to tackle overcrowding in jails. But critics have questioned the scope of exemptions after The Times reported that some men convicted in relation to historical grooming gang cases could be among those freed under the plans.
Some of the offending took place before sexual abuse laws were changed in 2003 and the perpetrators were charged with crimes including indecent assault, which does not fall within the exclusions to the scheme starting in October.
Political reactions
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch wrote to Mr Burnham earlier on Thursday demanding answers over which offences would be eligible for early release and 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.”
Pc Andrew Harper case
The Government has resisted pressure to exempt two of Pc Andrew Harper’s killers from early release as the boss 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 down a country road as the killers fled the scene of a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire. The driver of the vehicle, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence and will not be eligible for release under the scheme.
Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Jason Hogg said he was receiving legal advice on whether the force could join a legal challenge mooted by local Police Federation chief Aileen O’Connor to prevent Cole and Bowers being freed. The Prime Minister has said he wanted to “go further” with the exemptions after ordering a review of the scheme, but this was “not possible without the prison system reaching capacity and collapsing”.
Those 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 were part of the Sentencing Act passed earlier this year which cut the minimum amount of time many offenders would have to spend in prison.
