Burnham orders review of prisoner early release scheme ahead of September launch
The government’s controversial policy, originally designed by former Justice Secretary David Lammy to avert prison collapse, faces intense scrutiny as implementation nears.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced a comprehensive review of the government’s prisoner early release scheme, confirming he will work directly with Justice Secretary Alex Norris to examine the policy before its scheduled commencement in September. The move comes amid intensifying pressure from victims’ advocacy groups and opposition parties, who have raised serious concerns regarding public safety and the handling of offenders convicted of violent crimes.
The scheme, which allows thousands of inmates to serve shorter sentences to alleviate severe prison overcrowding, was originally spearheaded by former Justice Secretary David Lammy. Lammy, who has since been replaced by Norris, argued that the policy was essential to prevent the criminal justice system from collapsing under the weight of a capacity crisis that could see jails nearly full within six months. Under the current provisions, more than 5,000 prisoners, including those convicted of serious offences such as rape and domestic abuse, are eligible for release halfway through their sentences rather than serving two-thirds of their terms.
Burnham acknowledged the "unacceptable situation" created by a decade of underinvestment in the prison estate but insisted on a thorough examination of the policy’s mechanics. Speaking in Bath, the Prime Minister stated he could not guarantee a complete overhaul of the legislation but pledged to look into every aspect of the scheme in detail. His comments were prompted in part by the emotional appeals from the family of murdered police officer Andrew Harper, whose killers are eligible for early release under the new rules. Burnham expressed sympathy for the Harper family, describing the situation as an "insult" to their grief.
The review was accelerated following a rare coordinated intervention by Victims’ Commissioner Claire Waxman and Domestic Abuse Commissioner Nicole Jacobs, who urged Burnham and Norris to make the policy a "number one priority" in their inbox. Former safeguarding minister Jess Phillips also joined the call for scrutiny. While Burnham confirmed the reinstatement of a £2 bus fare cap across England as part of a broader cost of living blitz, he stopped short of committing to an immediate increase in the income tax personal allowance, noting only that it would be considered in the upcoming budget.
Victims’ organisations welcomed the decision to review the scheme but emphasised the urgent need for procedural fixes. Katie Kempen, chief executive of Victim Support, highlighted that most victims currently have no mechanism to know if an offender is eligible for early release, describing this lack of transparency as unacceptable. Rape Crisis England and Wales chief executive Ciara Bergman added that while the government faces significant challenges regarding overcrowding, solutions must not come at the expense of survivors.