MORE dangerous criminals to be released early: Stalkers and abusers on ‘indefinite’ sentences up for release, as Labour minister tells Mail that Burnham ‘is not focused on risk’
Developed over time first seen 2 months ago
Andy Burnham has faced fresh criticism after revising his early prison release scheme to keep the killers of PC Andrew Harper behind bars, while making room by releasing hundreds of other offenders, including those serving indefinite "imprisonment for public protection" (IPP) sentences originally imposed on prisoners deemed a significant risk to the public. Critics, including one of Burnham's own ministers, former justice secretary David Gauke and the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, warned the move prioritises political optics over genuine risk assessment, since many IPP prisoners have repeatedly been judged too dangerous for release, while stalkers and domestic abusers remain eligible for early release under the scheme.
Around 5,000 prisoners had been due for early release next month to ease overcrowding, down from 6,000 after rapists and serious child sex offenders were exempted. Burnham has now further excluded those convicted of unlawful killing, manslaughter, death by dangerous driving, indecent assault and grooming-gang offences, meaning Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, convicted of PC Harper's manslaughter in 2020, will no longer qualify. However, to free up cell space, ministers are instead releasing IPP prisoners, sentences abolished in 2012 but still served by offenders assessed as high risk, prompting warnings that stalkers and domestic abusers could reoffend against their victims.
- Burnham exempts PC Harper's killers from early prison release scheme
- Space freed by releasing high-risk IPP prisoners instead
- Critics say stalkers and abusers still eligible, calling policy risk-blind
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters could argue that relieving severe prison overcrowding is necessary for safe, workable prisons, and that a carefully managed early-release scheme can create space while retaining exclusions for particularly serious offences. They may also see review and release for some people still serving abolished IPP sentences as a way to address prolonged, indeterminate punishment, provided individual risk and victim safety are properly assessed.
The case against
Critics could argue that releasing people on IPP sentences despite their history of being assessed as too risky undermines the public-safety purpose of those sentences and may expose former partners or other victims to renewed harm. They may also contend that changing exclusions after public pressure, while leaving stalkers and domestic abusers eligible, makes release decisions appear driven by political optics rather than consistent, individual risk assessment.
Full account
Reports say ministers have revised a planned early-release programme intended to relieve pressure on prisons, excluding people convicted of unlawful killing. The change means those responsible for the manslaughter of PC Andrew Harper, Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, would no longer qualify for a shortened custodial term. The policy had already been narrowed to exclude rapists and serious child sex offenders, with further exclusions reported for death by dangerous driving, indecent assault and offences connected with grooming gangs.
The revised approach has prompted concern that retaining more prisoners in these categories will require space to be found elsewhere. One report says this could increase the prospect of release for some people serving imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentences, imposed between 2005 and 2012 on offenders judged to present a significant public risk. Critics, including a senior minister quoted anonymously, argued that the response to public reaction over PC Harper’s case risked overlooking people who may pose continuing risks, such as persistent stalkers and domestic abusers.
Domestic-abuse campaigners said the additional exclusions would not necessarily reassure victims if offenders convicted of repeated coercive, stalking or abusive conduct remained eligible for earlier release. Dame Nicole Jacobs, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, was quoted as saying the announcement would not provide reassurance to survivors, although the supplied report also noted approval for the exclusions that had been made.
Prison governors also raised wider operational concerns. They described a cycle in which people released to create capacity can return after reoffending or breaching licence conditions, leaving little lasting relief for overcrowded establishments. Ministry of Justice figures cited in the reports showed 51,419 recalls to prison in England and Wales in the year to March, up 28 per cent on the preceding year, while 70,066 prisoners had reportedly been released early since emergency measures began in September 2024. Justice minister Alex Davies-Jones defended the latest restriction, while acknowledging that prison capacity would become very tight.
Where outlets differ
Source 1 centres on the potential public-safety implications of making room through releases of IPP prisoners, and foregrounds criticism from domestic-abuse campaigners and an unnamed senior minister.
Source 2 gives greater prominence to prison governors’ concerns about overcrowding, recalls and a ‘revolving door’ effect, while including the ministerial defence of the policy.
The supplied excerpts do not provide publication URLs; both appear to describe the same policy revisions and cite broadly similar release and recall figures.