UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is urgently reviewing the early release of prisoners convicted of grooming offenses following concerns raised by Kemi Badenoch. The government plans to release approximately 5,000 offenders to ease prison overcrowding, but some individuals convicted of historical sex offenses may still be eligible.
The review addresses public and political concerns about ensuring that individuals convicted of serious offenses, particularly child grooming, serve their full sentences, balancing this with the need to manage prison capacity.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has ordered an urgent review to identify any grooming gang members who might be eligible for early release under the government's scheme to ease prison overcrowding. The announcement comes after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch expressed concerns that child sex offenders could be freed before their sentences are fully served.
Burnham's spokesperson stated that the Ministry of Justice is conducting an in-depth review to ensure grooming cases are identified, emphasizing the prime minister's personal intervention in the matter. Badenoch, however, described the move as a 'U-turn' and a 'review following my letter,' highlighting that offenses like indecent assault, often used in historical child sex abuse cases, were not initially excluded from the early release list.
The government plans to release around 5,000 offenders early, with approximately 5,000 extra releases scheduled in batches from October. Burnham indicated that excluding more offenders was not possible without risking the collapse of the prison system. The mother of PC Andrew Harper also expressed devastation that two men jailed for her son's killing may still be eligible for early release.