Andy Burnham says his priority is preventing the release of people convicted of child sexual abuse as the government’s early release scheme talks near their final day. According to reports, ministers have begun or are preparing to assess which serious offenders could be eligible for early release to help create space in prisons. The discussions include a mechanism that would allow certain exemptions, meaning some categories of criminals would not be released early.
The reporting indicates the review process is moving on a tight timeline, with ministers understood to have roughly 24 hours to evaluate potential exemptions. This assessment is described as balancing individual cases against the wider risk that the criminal justice system could face operational collapse without additional capacity.
The process is also described as having involved engagement with victims’ representatives and support services before the decision-making stage. Overall, sources portray an urgent, late-stage negotiation focused on whether safeguards can be applied to ensure child sexual abuse perpetrators remain in custody while authorities manage prison pressure.
