Key facts
- Rapists, child sexual abusers, and groomers will be excluded from early release plans.
- The planned early release of thousands of prisoners across England and Wales will be delayed by one month until October.
- The decision follows pressure from MPs, victims, campaigners, and prison officers.
- The domestic abuse commissioner stated excluding domestic abusers from the exclusion was wrong.
- Two men jailed for their role in PC Andrew Harper's death remain eligible for early release.
- A £10m package for victim support has been announced.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced significant changes to a planned early prisoner release scheme, excluding individuals convicted of rape, serious child sex offenses, and grooming offenses. This intervention comes after intense pressure from various groups concerned about public safety and the potential release of serious offenders.
The original plan to release up to 6,000 offenders early from September has been suspended and delayed until October. Burnham stated that while he understands the anger and anxiety caused, offenders sentenced for these severe crimes will now be excluded from the changes. The Ministry of Justice has not disclosed the number of prisoners who will no longer be freed as a result of this intervention, nor has it provided updated predictions on when prisons might reach full capacity.
The decision has drawn mixed reactions. The domestic abuse commissioner, Dame Nicole Jacobs, criticized the exclusion of domestic abusers, stating it puts victims' lives at risk. Andrea Simon, London's victim's commissioner, echoed concerns about the safety of abuse survivors, citing challenges in delivering community supervision. Conversely, Debbie Adlam, mother of murdered PC Andrew Harper, noted that two of her son's killers remain eligible for early release, calling it a "letdown."
Prisoners serving sentences of four years or more were set to be eligible for release at the halfway point of their term, a change from the previous two-thirds point. This applied to Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, two of PC Harper's killers, who were jailed for manslaughter. Henry Long, the main perpetrator, is not subject to early release. Tiff Lynch of the Police Federation warned that releasing those convicted of killing officers risks undermining public safety and confidence.
Burnham also announced a £10m package for victim support and stated that further early releases are not possible without risking greater public safety due to potential prison system collapse. The announcement follows internal discussions within the Ministry of Justice and No. 10 over managing public anger while ensuring the criminal justice system does not falter.