Burnham blocks early prison release for rapists and serious child sex offenders
The government will add tougher tagging and GPS monitoring while giving victims £10 million in support and a new helpline, officials said.
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced major revisions to the UK's early release scheme, explicitly excluding offenders convicted of rape, serious child sex offences, and grooming.
- The launch of the early release program has been delayed by one month to October 2026 to allow the Ministry of Justice to recalculate eligibility and adjust operational planning across the prison estate.
- The policy reversal follows mounting pressure from victims' advocates, police federations, and opposition leaders, who warned that releasing sex offenders early would endanger public safety.
- Domestic abusers and certain violent offenders remain eligible for early release, including two men convicted of manslaughter in the 2019 death of police officer Andrew Harper.
- Ministers defended maintaining the modified scheme, emphasizing that adult male prisons are operating at 98% capacity and warning that without emergency measures, the justice system risks structural collapse.
38 Articles
38 Articles
Burnham Scrambles to Close Rape Gang Early Release Loophole
Andy Burnham has ordered the Ministry of Justice to comb through paper records to exclude any rape gang offenders from walking free from prison early, after The Times reported some were inexplicably not excluded from the early release scheme. The ‘Roll-Royce’ British state in action… Burnham announced on Tuesday that anyone convicted of rape, serious…
Andy Burnham Officially Blocks Early Release for Rapists and Child Sex Offenders in Sentencing U-Turn
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has formally barred rapists and serious child sex offenders from early release under the Sentencing Act, in a reversal of a scheme inherited from the previous government. From October, offenders convicted of rape, serious child sexual offences and grooming gang crimes will no longer benefit from reduced custodial terms. The move follows a rapid review Mr Burnham ordered within days of entering Downing Street, after it…
UK excludes rapists, child sex offenders from early release reforms
The UK government has excluded rapists and child sex offenders from early prison release reforms after public outcry. Learn more about the changes. Read More: https://punchng.com/uk-excludes-rapists-child-sex-offenders-from-early-release-reforms/
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