- Andy Burnham has announced a review of the early release scheme, which has created a sense of chaos across the Prison Service, according to probation officers and the Napo union.
- Debbie Adlam, mother of PC Andrew Harper, criticized the scheme, stating that her son has not received "proper justice" and that "every victim will be feeling the same".
- The Napo union has reported that prison officials do not know how to respond to the review, warning of tight timeframes for the release of up to 6,000 prisoners from 2 September.
- The review has caused chaos in prisons, where managers are calculating release dates over several weeks from September.
- The Sentencing Act is the government's response to prison overcrowding, following an emergency scheme in 2024 that already released tens of thousands of inmates early.
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated he could not commit to changing the policy but would "look at it in detail" amid pressure on prison places.
- Adlam urged Burnham to "look at the big picture for the country", arguing that a justice system cannot simply release people because prisons are full.
The mother of PC Andrew Harper expressed her discontent with the early prison release scheme, stating, "It just feels like another let down for Andrew really, when you look at the horrific way he was killed". Harper was killed in 2019 during a quad bike theft incident, and the new Sentencing Act could allow two of his killers to be released early after serving just six years.25
Under the new act, which aims to address prison overcrowding, up to 6,000 prisoners across England and Wales are set for early release starting September 2. However, Burnham's review has created confusion among prison officials, with the Napo probation union stating that “prison officials do not know” how to respond to the changes.3
Burnham acknowledged the “pressure on prison places” and the need for a sustainable solution, but he has not committed to altering the policy significantly. “This review could potentially reduce the timeframes even further,” warned a union official, stressing the urgency for clarity on release plans.6
Mark Fairhurst, chair of the POA union, urged Burnham to reconsider the policy, emphasizing the need for exemptions for serious offenders to ensure victims feel a sense of justice. “He needs to seriously rethink this policy so that there are exemptions which will allow him to keep serious offenders behind bars,” Fairhurst stated.
The chaos surrounding the review has left probation staff scrambling to prepare for the upcoming releases, with many fearing that established plans could collapse without clear direction from the government.
“Burnham acknowledged 'pressure on prison places' and said he would 'look at it in detail,' as the Sentencing Act includes no exemptions for serious crimes. The Napo union warned the review could reduce timeframes for releasing up to 6,000 prisoners from 2 September, putting more pressure on staff.”
The Guardian
