Overview
- In early July Andy Burnham’s advisers started exploring ways to exclude child sex offenders from the Sentencing Act’s early-release rules and are assessing whether changes would need primary legislation.
- Parts of the Sentencing Act 2026 are due to be implemented from September and reports say an initial wave of roughly 700 prisoners could become eligible for earlier release.
- The Ministry of Justice has sent letters to more than 7,300 victims warning the offender who targeted them could qualify for early release, and survivors say the notices have retraumatised them and left some fearing retaliation.
- Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has forced a Commons Opposition Day vote to exempt rapists, paedophiles and grooming gang members and is pressing Labour MPs to back the motion, putting pressure on an incoming Burnham government.
- The government says the changes are meant to relieve severe prison overcrowding through an ‘earned progression’ model backed by electronic tagging, probation investment and plans for 14,000 new places while many of the most dangerous prisoners remain exempt.