Prison release scheme which could see Rotherham child abusers freed early to be "reviewed," says PM
“I can give that assurance that every single part of this I will look into with the Justice Secretary”
The new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has confirmed the Government’s early prisoner release scheme, which could see criminals including Rotherham child abusers freed years sooner, is set to be reviewed.
In recent weeks, survivors including Sammy Woodhouse and Sarah Wilson, received letters informing them that the men who groomed and sexually abused them when they were children could be released earlier than expected, under plans that form part of the Government’s Sentencing Act 2026.
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Under the plans, which had been due to come into effect in September 2026, a number of prisoners convicted of serious crimes, some of whom are killers, sex offenders and rapists, could be considered for release at the half-way stage.
Currently, such offenders are required to serve two-thirds of their sentence before they can be considered for release.
Today, three days into his premiership, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he wants to make sure “everything has been looked at” before the early prisoner release policy goes ahead.
Mr Burnham said: “All I can say is I will review the whole of this policy.
“Nobody can deny the pressure on prison places.
“We did not invest in the prison estate when we should as a country, going back a decade or so ago, when it was clear that there was going to be pressure.
“That has created an unacceptable situation now.
“But I want to assure myself that everything has been looked at before this policy proceeds, and I can give that assurance that every single part of this I will look into with the Justice Secretary.
“I can’t say that I can change the policy completely, but I will look at it in detail before we go further forward.”
Earlier this month, Sarah and Sammy - both of whom have previously waived their right to anonymity - expressed their concerns over the plans.
Both women said the prospect of their abusers being released had led them to fear for their safety, with Sammy branding the plans “absolute insanity.”
Sammy said the letter she received said her rapist Arshid Hussain, along with his brother Basharat, were among those being considered for early release.
In 2016, Arshid Hussain, then aged 40, was jailed for 35 years after being found guilty of 23 separate charges. He was considered to be the ringleader of one of Rotherham’s most notorious grooming gangs.
The gang included his brother Basharat, then aged 39, who was jailed for 25 years alongside him for 15 offences including rape.
Meanwhile, after receiving a similar letter, Sarah was shocked to learn that two of her abusers, Riyasth Hussain and Obaidullah Omari - both of whom have only been jailed over the last year - were being considered for an early release.
“If this new law goes through, I’ll have fought longer for justice than they’ll have served in prison,” said Sarah.
The scheme has attracted widespread criticism from survivors and campaigners in recent weeks.
It has come under yet more scrutiny today after the mother of a police officer killed in the line of duty said she has now learned the scheme could see two people serving time for his mansalughter freed early.
Police Constable Andrew Harper was killed aged 28 when Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole fastened him to the back of a car, and dragged him down a country road in Berkshire for more than a mile.
In an interview with The Telegraph, PC Harper's mother Debbie Adlam said she had received a letter from the MoJ confirming their sentences might be reduced, describing the plan as an “insult.”
The Sentencing Act was passed by the Government of outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Government earlier this year in a bid to ease some of the pressure on the overcrowded prison estate.
The efforts to ease prison overcrowding has previously seen inmates convicted of certain offences released after serving 40 per cent of their sentence, instead of at the half-way point.