Andy Burnham Pauses Early Release Prisoner Scheme After Backlash

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced he will be pausing the scheme to release some prisoners early following widespread backlash. Burnham declared that “no prisoners will be let out” until an urgent review into the legislation has been conducted.

The initial policy allowed low-level offenders to have their sentences suspended more frequently, but changes due on September 2 would have extended this early release to more serious offenders. The scheme, unveiled in the Sentencing Act 2026 under Keir Starmer, was intended to cut some sentences short to reduce prison overcrowding.

Concerns over the proposals began when it emerged that two of the three people responsible for killing PC Andrew Harper in 2019 could be released. Burnham’s response came after the former police officer’s family expressed their fury at the idea his killers could be released.

In a statement, the prime minister said: “Keeping the public safe will always be my top priority. I am working closely with the new justice secretary and have instructed my team to put a pause on the changes that were due to start in September. No prisoners will be let out under this policy until we have conducted an urgent review and done everything we can to minimise risk to the public.”