What could happen to prisoner early release scheme now PM has paused it?
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has paused an early release scheme for prisoners in England and Wales following public backlash and concerns over risk management. The scheme was intended to alleviate severe prison overcrowding, but the government is now conducting an urgent review.
Why it matters
The decision highlights the tension between managing prison capacity crises and ensuring public safety, a major challenge for the current government.
Image source, PA Media By Dominic Casciani Home and Legal Correspondent Published 10 minutes ago Prime Minister Andy Burnham is pausing an early release scheme for some prisoners in England and Wales.
His decision comes after the widow of PC Andrew Harper described the possibility of his killers being freed early as "deplorable".
Under the new Sentencing Act set to come into force in September, some 6,000 criminals were due to be released at varying stages - the aim being to ease overcrowding.
The prime minister has said that "no prisoners will be let out under this policy until we have conducted an urgent review and done everything we can to minimise risk to the public." His move now raises questions about how the scheme might operate.
Earlier this year Parliament voted through the Sentencing Act 2026 to radically reform the rules governing the sentencing and management of prisoners.
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