Prime Minister Andy Burnham has paused plans to release thousands of prisoners early in September, delaying the scheme to October and excluding rapists, child abusers and groomers after backlash from victims, police and MPs. The early-release programme, designed to ease critical overcrowding, will now roll out in phases starting with shorter sentences. Burnham said he wanted to go further but could not risk a collapse of the prison system. The government announced a £10 million victim-support package and new GPS tracking for released offenders. However, it drew sharp criticism for continuing to allow the early release of domestic abusers and the killers of PC Andrew Harper. Shadow justice minister Nick Timothy called the move a U-turn that did not go far enough.
UK delays early prisoner release and excludes rapists and child abusers
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theguardian.com GBR Burnham to focus on keeping child rapists in prison as release scheme talks enter final daybbc.co.uk GBR Rapists and child sex offenders to be barred from early release schemetheguardian.com GBR Rapists, child abusers and groomers will not leave prison early, says PMstandard.co.uk GBR Burnham blocks early prison release for rapists and serious child sex offenders
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