The government has expanded the list of offences excluded from an early release scheme, prompting relief among families of victims who had campaigned against the policy. It was confirmed yesterday that those convicted of all forms of manslaughter, death by dangerous driving, allowing or causing the death of a child, and historical indecent assault will no longer qualify for early release starting in October.

The decision follows weeks of uncertainty and distress for families concerned that offenders responsible for serious deaths could be granted significantly reduced prison terms. Calvin Buckley, whose pregnant partner Frankie Jules-Hough was killed in a motorway crash in Bury, Greater Manchester, in 2023, expressed relief but also frustration over the delayed clarity. Jules-Hough’s killer, Adil Iqbal, was initially jailed for 12 years for causing death by dangerous driving, with the sentence later increased to 15 years after being deemed unduly lenient. Buckley said the uncertainty had reopened trauma and anxiety for many families and called for clearer communication and earlier notice in such matters.

Similarly, Claire Corkery, whose parents were fatally struck by a dangerous driver in Bearsted, Kent, last year, welcomed the change after a period of advocacy. Scott Gunn was sentenced to 16 years in that case. Corkery commented on the perceived minimization of road deaths and said she intends to focus her campaigning on broader road safety reforms. She also noted prison overcrowding as a symptom of a struggling system.

Families affected by other incidents also expressed their satisfaction with the announcement. Katherine Errington, mother of seven-year-old Archie York who died in a 2023 flat explosion caused by an illegal cannabis lab in Newcastle upon Tyne, said reducing her son’s killer’s sentence would have been unjust. Reece Galbraith was sentenced to 14 years for manslaughter related to the explosion. Errington described the last weeks as difficult but welcomed the decision as a victory for her family.

In Co Durham, Gemma Chappell spoke of relief that Maya, her two-year-old great-niece who was violently shaken to death in 2022, will have her mother exempted from early release. Maya’s mother, Dana Carr, was sentenced to nine years for child cruelty and allowing the death of a child, while the perpetrator of the murder, Michael Daymond, received a life sentence. Chappell said the prime minister’s decision reflected attentiveness to victims’ voices across the country and contributed to rebuilding trust.

The exclusion list now also includes historical indecent assault offences, a move prompted by revelations that some historical child sex offenders remained eligible for early release due to the legal framework under which they were charged. Many such offences occurred before anti-grooming laws were introduced in 2003 and were prosecuted under older indecent assault statutes. Vicki Crawford, who was assaulted as a teenager in London during the late 1980s and whose attacker was sentenced in 2024, said the closing of this loophole was a significant and positive outcome after a prolonged campaign.

While the government’s expanded exemption list has been broadly welcomed by bereaved families, calls have been made for improved communication and timely clarity from the justice system when implementing policies that deeply affect victims and their families.