Burnham says he will review early prisoner release scheme
BBC News 2026-07-22 11:45:00
Context: Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced that he will review the early prisoner release policy, which has been in place since September 2024, and has allowed tens of thousands of inmates to be let out of prison to create more space in jails. The policy has been met with criticism, including from the mother of police officer Andrew Harper, who was killed and whose killers may be eligible for early release. Burnham stated that he wants to assure himself that everything has been looked at before this policy proceeds.
Key Facts
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that he will review the early prisoner release policy, saying "I can't say that I can change the policy completely, but I will look at it in detail before we go further forward."
- The early prisoner release policy, implemented under the Sentencing Act, has allowed tens of thousands of inmates to be released early since September 2024 to ease pressure on prisons.
- Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were sentenced to 13 years in custody for manslaughter for the killing of police officer Andrew Harper, may be eligible for early release under the new Sentencing Act.
- Burnham acknowledged that there was "pressure on prisons places" and that a failure to invest in the prison system in the past had created "an unacceptable situation".
- The Prime Minister emphasized his commitment to reviewing the policy, stating "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."