Families of victims affected by recent high-profile cases have called on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to prioritize their concerns as he pledged to review the government’s early prisoner release policy.
Burnham’s commitment, made on Wednesday, follows growing unease over changes introduced under the Sentencing Act 2026, which allow some prisoners to be eligible for release halfway through their sentences rather than after serving two-thirds. The policy, aimed at alleviating overcrowding in prisons, has sparked distress among victims’ families who fear it may undermine justice.
One such family is that of Archie York, a seven-year-old boy who died in a 2019 explosion in Newcastle caused by an illegal drugs laboratory in a flat beneath their home. Reece Galbraith, the drug dealer held responsible for the blast, received a 14-year prison sentence for manslaughter. Under the revised release rules, Galbraith could be considered for release after serving only half his term, a prospect that deeply alarms Archie’s mother, Katherine Errington. She expressed hope that Burnham’s review will finally acknowledge the suffering of victims’ families, stating that the current system fails to consider their ongoing fight for justice.
Similar concerns have emerged from the family of Maya Chappell, a two-year-old who died in 2022 after being violently shaken by her mother’s boyfriend in Shotton Colliery, County Durham. Maya’s mother, Dana Carr, is serving nine years in prison for child cruelty and allowing the death of her child, and may also become eligible for early release under the new policy. Maya’s great-aunt, Gemma Chappell, said that victims have been repeatedly let down and expressed cautious optimism that the review by Burnham and Justice Secretary Alex Norris could help restore some trust in the system. She stressed that victims’ voices should be central in decisions relating to serious crimes.
The controversy extends to the case of PC Andrew Harper, a police officer killed during a burglary in Berkshire in 2019. Two of the three teenage suspects, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, were sentenced to 13 years for manslaughter and might qualify for early release consideration, while the driver, Henry Long, received a 16-year term and is excluded from the scheme. Families of PC Harper have voiced concerns over the potential impact of the policy.
Burnham indicated that he and Justice Secretary Norris will jointly review the early release policy before any further decisions are made. Speaking in Bath, the Prime Minister said he wanted to ensure “everything has been looked at” before the policy moves forward, acknowledging that a complete reversal may not be possible but emphasizing the importance of the review.
The announcement has drawn support from Newcastle Central and West MP Chi Onwurah, who welcomed the prospect of reconsidering the rules. Additionally, Claire Waxman, the Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales, endorsed the Prime Minister’s pledge, recognizing the challenges of prison overcrowding but underscoring that promised safeguards for victims have yet to be fully implemented. Waxman called for urgent action to better protect victims’ rights within the early release system.