Badenoch calls for emergency legislation to stop early release scheme
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to introduce emergency legislation to stop the early release of hundreds of prisoners.
Burnham announced last week that he was pausing the plan, which would see the release of around 700 prisoners in a first phase in September, following a backlash from survivors and victims.
But the Conservatives say the government’s review will not prevent criminals from being released.
The plan was part of Labor’s bid to stop unprecedented overcrowding, which it said was caused by Conservative governments’ failure to build new prisons.
A Labor spokesman said: “This government is fixing the Tories’ mess.”
He was released early First used by Conservative government, external In 2023, due to prison overcrowding, first for 18 and then for 70 days, 10,000 prisoners were released in early June 2024, that is, before the Labor Party came to power.
When Sir Keir Starmer entered Downing Street in July 2024, there were fewer than 100 vacant prison places on the adult male estate; this led the Criminal Code to release a further 6,000 prisoners in early September.
The law already excludes the most serious and dangerous criminals, such as murderers sentenced to life imprisonment or those with extended sentences. Eligibility for early release depends on length of sentence, externalrather than the type of crime.
Badenoch is calling on Burnham to step up legislation to keep serious criminals behind bars.
“Lowering bills and bus fares is all well and good, but that pales into insignificance when pedophiles and rapists are about to be unleashed on our streets,” he is expected to say at a press conference with victims on Tuesday.
“Burnham needs to show us that he’s ready to make tough decisions.”
Badenoch said without emergency legislation, dangerous criminals would start being released the day after MPs return to Parliament following the summer recess on Tuesday, September 1.
He is urging Burnham to repeal the legislation, which comes into force on September 2, and recall Parliament if necessary to ensure the worst Violent and sexual offenders are exempt from early release.
Conservative shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy said: “Victims should not have to live in fear all summer waiting for an investigation.
“Time is ticking. Thousands of rapists, pedophiles and other serious criminals are scheduled to be released in September.
“Labour must act now and stop the mass release of dangerous criminals.”
Earlier this month the Conservative Party frontbench tried to pressure the government to rethink previous release plans, saying it would mean some rapists would be released from prison sooner than expected.
The government has stood behind the plan, saying it was a political choice to manage criminals under strict conditions in society rather than see the collapse of the system and leave sex offenders and others to face impunity.
Burnham’s decision to pause the plan follows criticism from the family of Thames Valley Police officer Andrew Harper, who was killed by three teenagers in Berkshire in 2019 while being dragged along a country road by a car.
Two of PC Harper’s killers, who were both jailed for 13 years, would be eligible for the scheme from June 2027, when the longest fixed sentences will be added.
PC Harper’s widow Lissie described the plans as “pathetic” and said politicians were “making decisions from behind the table that will have real and lasting consequences” for victims’ families.
Advocating the review of the Criminal Code announced by Burnham, a Labor spokesman said: “The Conservatives have some courage.
“During their 14-year tenure, they closed 23 prisons, created just 482 prison places, and granted early release to 10,000 inmates, leaving the criminal justice system on the brink of collapse.
“This is the government that is fixing the Tories’ mess. We have already delivered more than 3,000 prison places and are investing billions of dollars to deliver thousands more.”
Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Jess Brown-Fuller MP said: “The reality is that in a properly functioning justice system, no victim or loved one should be told that their perpetrator will be released sooner than expected.
“Unfortunately, by pushing our prisons to the brink of collapse, the Conservatives have created a capacity crisis that requires urgent action to ensure the functioning of the system and the safety of the public.
“Now that the government claims it is increasing prison capacity, there is a clear opportunity for Burnham to correct some of the mistakes his predecessors made with this plan.”
Zia Yusuf, Reform England’s Home Affairs spokesman, said the “disastrous” policy had been introduced by the Conservative Party and he supported Badenoch’s efforts to extend it in 2024.
“It is clear that only one side has consistently opposed early release and proposed strong law and order reforms to ensure that hardened criminals are imprisoned for the full term of their sentences,” Yusuf said in a statement. he said.
“Only Reform Britain can fix lawless Britain,” the party’s Home Affairs spokesman added.
