Burnham orders review of early release for serious offenders
6 reported1 unconfirmed
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has ordered a review of plans to release thousands of killers, rapists and sex offenders from prison in September, sparking a political row. The move follows outrage from the family of PC Andrew Harper, whose killers may be eligible for early release under the new Sentencing Act. Burnham said he would examine the policy with Justice Secretary Alex Norris, but acknowledged he could not promise to change it completely. Prison reform groups and government officials warned that abandoning the early release scheme could cause the criminal justice system to collapse due to overcrowding. The Sentencing Act, passed under former Prime Minister Keir Starmer, includes no exemptions for serious crimes, domestic abuse or terrorism. Burnham also indicated a possible increase in the personal allowance on income tax, which has been frozen since 2022, but said no commitment had been made.
What’s reported
Andy Burnham ordered a review of plans to release thousands of killers, rapists and sex offenders from prison in September.
The family of PC Andrew Harper expressed outrage that his killers may be eligible for release.
The Sentencing Act includes no exemptions for prisoners convicted of serious crimes, domestic abuse or terrorism.
Burnham said he would review the policy with Justice Secretary Alex Norris but could not promise to change it completely.
Prison reform groups and government officials warned abandoning early release could lead to the criminal justice system collapsing.
Burnham indicated a possible increase in the personal allowance on income tax from £12,570, but said no commitment had been made.
Open questions
Whether Burnham will change the early release policy or keep it in place.
Key figures
Andy Burnham, Prime Minister
Alex Norris, Justice Secretary
PC Andrew Harper, deceased police officer
Lissie Harper, widow of PC Andrew Harper
Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, convicted of manslaughter of PC Andrew Harper
David Lammy, former Justice Secretary
Shabana Mahmood, Home Secretary
Chris Philp, Conservative shadow home secretary
Rory Stewart, former Conservative prisons minister
Jess Phillips, former safeguarding minister
Andrea Coomber, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform
Enver Solomon, chief executive of Nacro
Ciara Bergman, chief executive of Rape Crisis England and Wales
Katie Kempen, chief executive at Victim Support
Sources: The Guardian
