Prime Minister Andy Burnham has defended his government’s plan to reduce prison overcrowding by releasing some inmates earlier than scheduled. The policy follows concerns from victims’ groups and the public about potentially freeing dangerous offenders too soon. Burnham said that his administration is taking steps to ensure public safety while addressing a long-standing prison capacity crisis.
He noted that only about 500 new prison places were added during the years between 2010 and 2024 while 23 prisons were closed, according to saharareporters.com. This has led to a system operating at near-full capacity, with serious consequences for law enforcement and court operations. Burnham said that the prison system is in danger of collapsing if no immediate action is taken.
He emphasized that his first act as prime minister was to pause the early-release plan pending a review. After reviewing public concerns and victim feedback, he decided to narrow the list of eligible prisoners. Rape, serious child sexual offences, and grooming crimes are now excluded from early release under the new rules.
Some offenders who were already considered dangerous will also not qualify for early release. Burnham said that he wanted to exclude even more categories but feared it could cause the prison system to collapse. He explained that such a collapse would leave police unable to arrest suspects and courts unable to sentence new offenders.
To address public concerns, the government will impose stricter supervision on those who are released early. Most eligible prisoners will be fitted with electronic tags and monitored more closely by probation officers. Additional restrictions may include bans on entering certain neighborhoods or visiting public places.
These conditions will be decided in consultation with victims to ensure their safety. The government also announced a £10 million support package for crime victims. This includes trauma-informed services and a new national helpline to help victims navigate the justice system.
Burnham pledged to solve the prison overcrowding problem permanently through a large-scale construction project. His government plans to build 14,000 new prison places by 2031, calling it the fastest prison-building programme since the Victorian era. In addition to building more space, the government will review other measures to reduce pressure on prisons.
One review focuses on how long people are held under the Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences from 2005 to 2012. Another looks at releasing more female prisoners early, with some women’s prisons potentially converted for male inmates. The government also plans to speed up deportations of foreign offenders after conviction.
Burnham said these actions are part of a broader effort to restore public trust in the justice system. He admitted that the changes do not go as far as he would like but are necessary given current conditions. The scheme excluded violent offenders serving four years or more, sex offences, and those convicted of domestic abuse.
Most of the people released were serving sentences under 12 months. Despite these early releases, prison overcrowding continued to rise. The Sentencing Act 2026 was passed under the previous government and allows inmates to be released as early as one-third of their sentence.
This new law was set to take effect in September but was paused after public backlash. The pause came after a high-profile case involving the death of PC Andrew Harper, where two of his killers would have qualified for early release. Burnham confirmed that those convicted of rape, serious child sex offences, and grooming crimes will not be eligible for early release.
Previously, exclusions were based on sentence length rather than the type of crime.
Burnham said he wanted to go even further in excluding more offenders but acknowledged it would risk system collapse. He emphasized that victims and their families have suffered greatly and deserve consideration. However, he also sees this crisis as an opportunity to reform how people are sentenced and incarcerated.
Evidence shows that prison use has little impact on rehabilitation or reducing crime.
Burnham stressed that long-term solutions must include addressing sentence inflation and investing in community services.
IMAGE: Current PM Andrew Burnham, British politician and Secretary of State for Health, speaking during the Health Hotel session “One in three: Tackling cancer is an election issue” at the Hilton Metropole, Brighton, during the Labour Party Conference 2009.. Photo: Credit: http://www.acumenimages.com. Uploaded to Flickr by The Health Hotel. / Wikimedia, taken 2009-09-29, CC BY-SA 2.0