Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the planned early-release scheme for prisoners would be reviewed amid concern that people convicted in the Rotherham child sexual exploitation cases could qualify for earlier release. The issue matters because survivors, including Sarah Wilson and Sammy Woodhouse, fear perpetrators could return to the community sooner than originally expected, while the policy is intended to relieve severe prison overcrowding.

The Sentencing Act changes due to begin in September could allow some prisoners serving sentences for sexual or violent offences to be released halfway through their terms rather than after two-thirds, subject to behaviour rules. Around 6,000 prisoners were expected to be affected overall; after public criticism, Burnham said no releases under the policy would proceed until an urgent review had considered public safety and potential changes.