Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced that he will conduct a detailed review of the government's current early prisoner release policy. Speaking to reporters in Bath, Burnham stated that while he could not confirm a complete change to the policy, he intends to examine the matter thoroughly before proceeding further.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the significant pressure on prison places, attributing the current situation to a lack of investment in the prison system over previous years, which he described as an unacceptable state of affairs. Since September 2024, tens of thousands of inmates have been released early to manage the lack of space within the prison estate. This ongoing issue of overcrowding has persisted for several years, leading successive governments to utilize early release programs to alleviate the strain.
The policy currently under scrutiny is part of the Sentencing Act, which was passed by Sir Keir Starmer's government earlier this year. The legislation was introduced specifically to address the lack of prison capacity, allowing certain offenders to spend less time in custody. However, the policy has faced public criticism, most notably from the mother of police officer Andrew Harper. She recently described the potential early release of two of her son's killers as an insult. Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were sentenced to 13 years in custody for manslaughter, are among those who could be eligible for release under the Act.
Addressing these concerns, Burnham emphasized his commitment to transparency and oversight. He stated, "I want to assure myself that everything has been looked at before this policy proceeds, and I can give that assurance that every single part of this I will look into with the justice secretary."
