Rapists and child sex offenders to be barred from early release scheme

Prisoners convicted of serious crimes, including rape, grooming, and child sex offences, will be barred from an early release scheme in England and Wales, according to a statement by Andy Burnham. This decision comes in response to criticism from families of victims, who argued that the scheme disproportionately benefits offenders while neglecting the rights of those affected by crime.

The Prime Minister acknowledged the anger and distress caused by the backlash but emphasized the challenges posed by prison overcrowding, stating that making more prisoners exempt from the scheme would risk overwhelming the prison system and endangering the public. The Sentencing Act was amended in January, shifting the eligibility for early release based on the length of a prisoner's fixed sentence rather than the nature of the offence.

However, this change did not exclude certain serious offenders, such as life-sentenced murderers or those on extended sentences. Families of victims, including those of PC Andrew Harper and Sue and Tom Corkery, expressed their disappointment and anger over the decision, arguing that innocent victims should not be sacrificed to address prison capacity issues.

The revised scheme will exclude rapists and child sex offenders from early release, but the number of individuals impacted remains unclear, with prison authorities estimating that around 1,000 prisoners may not be released early. The government stated that this change does not necessitate legislative amendments before October, but future amendments may be introduced to further narrow the list of eligible offenders.