Burnham announces major changes to early release scheme
- Andy Burnham announced that rapists and serious child sex offenders, including those convicted of grooming, will be excluded from the early prisoner release scheme.
- The decision follows public outcry and concerns from victims, leading to a delay of the scheme until October.
- The prime minister stated he wanted to go further but warned that excluding more offenders would risk the collapse of the prison system due to overcrowding.
- New measures include tighter community supervision with GPS monitoring for rapists, a £10m package for victim support, and a new national helpline.
- While welcomed by some as a “victory for victims”, critics, including Pc Harper’s widow and the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, argue the changes do not go far enough, particularly regarding domestic abusers.
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