Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced significant revisions to the government’s early-release scheme for prisoners, following widespread criticism and public concern over the potential release of dangerous offenders. The updated policy, revealed at the end of August 2026, excludes all prisoners convicted of unlawful killing—including manslaughter and death by dangerous driving—as well as grooming gang perpetrators and those guilty of indecent assault, from eligibility for early release. This decision followed intense backlash after it emerged that Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, convicted in 2020 for the manslaughter of PC Andrew Harper, were initially set to qualify for early release under the scheme.
The scheme, introduced by the previous Labour government under Sir Keir Starmer to alleviate prison overcrowding, allows some inmates to be released earlier than the standard sentence terms. Burnham said he spent the summer thoroughly reviewing the policy and vowed to keep the offenders responsible for PC Harper’s death behind bars, much to the relief of Harper’s family and police leaders. Approximately 1,400 prisoners, including Bowers and Cole, will remain incarcerated when the scheme takes effect in October, while around 4,500 others are expected to be released early over the subsequent six months.
However, the revisions come with trade-offs. To accommodate the changes, thousands of prisoners serving indefinite sentences under the now-abolished imprisonment for public protection (IPP) system, which was introduced in 2005 and scrapped in 2012, are slated for release by 2029. IPP sentences were intended for offenders deemed dangerous but whose crimes did not warrant life sentences. Critics—including former justice secretaries and Conservative party figures—warn that releasing these IPP inmates, many of whom have been assessed as high risk, could place the public in greater danger and lead to a revolving-door effect in the criminal justice system.
Burnham’s government plans to create additional prison space by deporting foreign offenders and releasing some IPP prisoners after careful assessment. A proposed cross-party oversight group will examine the IPP system to address what Burnham described as an “injustice” affecting inmates convicted of varying levels of offenses, including some who committed lesser crimes but have faced prolonged incarceration.
The scheme does not extend its exclusions to domestic abusers, a decision that has drawn criticism from domestic abuse campaigners. Dame Nicole Jacobs, Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, expressed concern that victims will continue to face threats despite the government's measures, which include electronic tagging and movement restrictions for released offenders. The Ministry of Justice emphasized that some of the strictest conditions to date will be applied to mitigate risks posed by such prisoners.
Police officials have voiced apprehension about the broader impacts of the early-release scheme. Thames Valley Police Chief Jason Hogg described the justice system as being in crisis and warned that resources would be diverted to monitor offenders released under the policy. He acknowledged that while the government’s decision to keep PC Harper’s killers incarcerated marks progress, the release of other dangerous criminals may still pose significant public safety challenges.
As prison overcrowding remains acute—with June figures showing about 86,000 inmates and limited available spaces—Burnham’s early-release policy aims to ease pressure on the penal system. However, the plan continues to face scrutiny from political opponents and justice experts who argue that without expanding prison capacity, shifting inmates between categories may not adequately protect communities or address systemic issues within the criminal justice framework.