Burnham to review early prisoner release policy before September start
6 reported
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has indicated he will review the early prisoner release policy before it goes ahead, according to remarks reported by the Press Association. Hundreds of offenders are set to be released early under the new Sentencing Act from September, which includes no exemptions for prisoners convicted of serious crimes, domestic abuse, or terrorism. This differs from emergency measures in the early months of the Labour government, when tens of thousands of prisoners were released due to prison overcrowding. Burnham stated he would look into every part of the policy with the justice secretary but could not say he would change it completely. The review comes after Lissie Harper, widow of PC Andrew Harper, called it “deplorable” that prisoners could be considered for early release, noting two of her husband’s killers could be freed early. Burnham said the main perpetrator in Harper’s death “will not be subject to any early release.”
What’s reported
Andy Burnham said he will review the early prisoner release policy before it proceeds.
Hundreds of offenders will be released early under the new Sentencing Act from September.
The new law has no exemptions for serious crimes, domestic abuse, or terrorism, unlike earlier emergency measures.
Burnham stated: “I can’t say that I can change the policy completely, but I will look at it in detail before we go further forward.”
Lissie Harper said it was “deplorable” that prisoners could be considered for early release.
Burnham said the main perpetrator in PC Andrew Harper’s killing “will not be subject to any early release.”
Key figures
Andy Burnham, prime minister
Lissie Harper, widow of PC Andrew Harper
Nick Timothy, shadow justice secretary
Ed Miliband, foreign secretary
Wes Streeting, defence secretary
John Swinney, Scotland’s first minister
Joanne O’Neill, co-director of advocacy at ActionAid UK
Kirsty McNeill, aid minister
Sources: The Guardian
