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Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to introduce emergency legislation aimed at halting the early release of hundreds of prisoners. Burnham recently announced a pause to the scheme, which initially planned to free about 700 inmates in its first phase this September, following strong opposition from survivors and victims.
The government’s review of the policy, however, faces criticism from the Conservative party, which contends that it will not prevent the release of offenders. The early release scheme was introduced to address severe overcrowding in prisons, a problem Labour attributes to previous Conservative governments’ failure to build enough new prison facilities. A spokesperson from Labour stated, “It’s this government that is fixing the Tories’ mess.”
This early release approach, initially introduced by the Conservative government in 2023, was a response to escalating prison overcrowding. The policy allowed prisoners to be freed early, first by 18 days, then up to 70 days, leading to 10,000 early releases by June 2024—prior to Labour assuming power. After Sir Keir Starmer’s government took office in July 2024, there were fewer than 100 available prison places for adult males, prompting the enactment of the Sentencing Act, which facilitated the early release of an additional 6,000 prisoners starting in September. The law excludes the most serious offenders, such as murderers serving life sentences or those on extended sentences; however, eligibility is determined by sentence length rather than offense type.
Badenoch insists that Burnham must act swiftly to block early releases of serious offenders. Addressing a forthcoming press conference, she condemned the situation, stating, “It’s all well and good cutting bills and bus fares, but that pales into insignificance when paedophiles and rapists are about to be let out on our streets.” She further challenged the Prime Minister, urging him to demonstrate a readiness to make difficult decisions. According to Badenoch, without emergency legislation, dangerous criminals could begin to be released as soon as MPs return to Parliament after the summer recess on 1 September. She called on Burnham to revoke the legislation scheduled to take effect on 2 September and, if necessary, recall Parliament to ensure violent and sexual offenders remain incarcerated.
Shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy echoed these concerns, emphasizing the anxiety victims face. “Victims should not have to live in fear all summer waiting for a review,” he said. “The clock is ticking. Thousands of rapists, paedophiles, and other serious criminals are set to be released in September. Labour must act now and stop the mass release of dangerous criminals.” Despite Conservative pressure, the government defends the policy as a political decision to manage offenders under strict supervision in the community, avoiding a breakdown of the prison system that could allow offenders to act without consequence.
Burnham’s decision to pause the scheme followed criticism from the family of Thames Valley Police officer Andrew Harper, who was fatally attacked in 2019. Two of Harper’s killers, serving 13-year sentences, stood to benefit from early release provisions starting in June 2027, when the longest fixed sentences apply under the new rules. PC Harper’s widow, Lissie, described the plans as “deplorable,” condemning politicians for making decisions detached from the real consequences faced by victims’ families.
In defense of the review, a Labour spokesperson highlighted the Conservatives’ previous management of the prison system, stating, “The Conservatives have some nerve. During their 14 years in office, they shut 23 prisons, created just 482 jail places, and granted early release to 10,000 prisoners—leaving the criminal justice system teetering on the verge of collapse. It’s this government that is fixing the Tories’ mess. We have already delivered over 3,000 prison places and we’re investing billions to deliver thousands more.” Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Jess Brown-Fuller MP acknowledged the system’s earlier failings but pointed to the government’s efforts to expand prison capacity as an opportunity for Burnham to amend the current early release policies. “No victim or loved ones should ever be told that their perpetrator is being released earlier than expected,” she said, emphasizing the importance of correcting past mistakes
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