UK Justice Secretary Apologises Over Early Release Scheme

Justice Secretary Alex Norris apologised to families affected by England and Wales’ early release scheme, saying they were “carrying the can from previous failures”.

Norris said he spoke to bereaved and affected relatives because it was “really important to express that this shouldn’t be where it is”. He also warned that reducing eligibility further could trigger a prison capacity crisis, potentially increasing risk to the public.

Apology Amid Wider Criticism

Families raised concerns after the government announced new exclusions from the scheme for certain offences, and after a pause earlier this year following backlash from survivors.

One case mentioned by relatives was that of PC Andrew Harper, who was killed in 2019 when a car dragged him down a country road in Berkshire after teenagers fled the scene of a quad bike theft. His family previously received a letter from the Ministry of Justice saying two of the offenders could be eligible.

PC Harper’s mother, Debbie Adlam, said she was “devastated” after learning the men jailed after her son’s death would still be eligible. Adlam said Norris later called her to explain the changes and apologise, but said it “feels like we’re letting Andrew down again”.

Other families also criticised the revised approach. Calvin Buckley said he was “shocked and disappointed” that the killer of his partner and unborn child could be released early, adding that the scheme appears to come “at the expense of victims”.

Claire Corkery, whose parents were killed by a speeding driver in January 2024, said it could amount to a “tiered system”, where some deaths are treated as less serious.

Revised Offence Exemptions Announced

The government, led by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, said prisoners convicted of rape, grooming and serious child sex offences would be excluded from early release. Burnham said he wanted to exclude more, but prison overcrowding meant it was not possible to broaden exemptions further without undermining capacity.

Norris said the change would mean around 1,000 prisoners would not be released early. He added that further widening could lead to “a prison capacity crisis”.

Under the revised plans, people released on licence would face “very significant controls” and victims would be consulted about them.

The Sentencing Act was amended in January so eligibility is based on the length of a fixed sentence rather than the type of offence. The act already excluded some of the most serious and dangerous offenders, including murderers serving life sentences and those on extended sentences.

The government said making additional exclusions did not require legislative changes before October, but it might amend the rules later to exclude further offenders.

Phased Changes And Future Oversight

The scheme will take effect through phased changes beginning with prisoners serving sentences of fewer than 575 days. Eligibility will extend up to those jailed for 12 years or more, with that group able to receive early release in June 2027. The number of people released each time will depend on the prison population, which the government said is expected to evolve until implementation.

The government also said the basis for release would change: offenders serving sentences of four years or more would be eligible halfway through their term rather than after two-thirds. Those with shorter sentences would be eligible after a third rather than half.

Separately, people who serve the full sentence and are convicted of rape or serious child sex offences will face stronger surveillance after leaving prison.

The Prison Governors’ Association said it was “unclear” how many prisoners would have their sentences recalculated once the new exclusions take effect, adding there could be “huge pressure” on prison and probation staff.

Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales Claire Waxman said the exemptions would feel like a “real injustice” for PC Harper’s family, and called for stronger leadership. The Prison Reform Trust’s Pia Sinha said there were “no happy solutions”, warning that demand and supply would not match by 2029 if exclusions keep increasing.

Domestic Abuse Commissioner Dame Nicole Jacobs criticised the decision not to exclude domestic abuse perpetrators, saying she wanted reassurance that victims’ safety would not be compromised.

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5 August 2026