Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has acknowledged the challenges posed by Labour’s plans to release thousands of prisoners early, expressing discomfort over the impact on victims while emphasizing the government’s need to address overcrowding in the prison system.
Streeting, speaking to Sky News, emphasized the delicate balance the government is attempting to strike between managing the risks associated with releasing serious offenders and the practical necessity of freeing space within prisons. He described the issue as a “wicked and fiendish” dilemma, underscoring the complexity of releasing offenders who have served part of their sentences under supervision while maintaining public safety.
The early release scheme, due to take effect from September 2, was paused last week by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who ordered a review following public outcry. The plan affects an estimated 6,000 prisoners, including individuals convicted of serious crimes such as murder, rape, and violent offenses. The pause came after it was revealed that two of the killers of PC Andrew Harper—Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole—were among those scheduled for early release halfway through their 13-year sentences, rather than after two-thirds of their term. PC Harper’s widow, Lissie Harper, condemned the policy as “deplorable.”
Streeting recounted warnings from former justice secretary Shabana Mahmood shortly after the last general election about the dire state of prison capacity. Mahmood reportedly cautioned that police might be unable to detain violent criminals due to a lack of space in prisons and police cells nationwide—a situation that led to the formulation of the early release scheme. The Defence Secretary stressed that the scheme aims to allow supervised release that still enforces punishment while managing risks, rather than a general inclination to shorten sentences.
Analysis of Ministry of Justice data indicates that, under the current criteria, roughly 220 child rapists and 344 adult rapists are eligible for early release, including individuals sentenced to over ten years in some cases. Additionally, 85 individuals convicted of manslaughter are also set to qualify, with 21 serving sentences exceeding a decade. These revelations have intensified calls from victims, campaigners, and some politicians to exempt sex offenders and killers from the early release program entirely.
Charlotte McQueen, a survivor of childhood rape, urged Burnham to halt early release for sex offenders after learning that her assailant might be freed as early as Christmas. Meanwhile, Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp advocated for expanding prison capacity more rapidly, including the use of prefabricated units, to avoid releasing serious offenders before completing their sentences.
Labour, however, countered by criticizing the Conservative government’s record on prison building, noting that only 500 new spaces have been added over 14 years. The party highlighted that current efforts to expand prison capacity are the fastest since the Victorian era.
As the review continues, ministers face growing pressure from both sides of the debate to find solutions that address overcrowding without compromising public safety or the concerns of victims.