Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is calling for a permanent ban on the early release of violent criminals, including rapists and child abusers. This follows a decision by Prime Minister Andy Burnham to pause the Labour government's sentencing policy after significant public backlash.
The Stockton murder that fueled the outcry
The debate over prisoner release has intensified following the murder of 26-year-old Lewis Bell in Stockton on September 19, 2024. According to the report, the perpetrator, Liam Matthews, had been released from prison just the previous morning under the government's plan to alleviate prison overcrowding. Matthews had previously served three and a half months for a separate assault.
This tragedy serves as a grim backdrop to the political battle over the Sentencing Act, which was originally slated to begin on September 2. the incident has provided critics with a concrete example of the risks associated with releasing inmates early to manage crowded facilities, an issue that has long plagued the UK justice system.
The 13-year sentences of PC Andrew Harper's killers
Public outrage has also been driven by the potential release of individuals involved in the 2019 death of PC Andrew Harper in Berkshire. While Henry Long, who drove the vehicle that killed the officer, is ineligible for the scheme, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed that Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers may be eligible for rellease.
Cole and Bowers were handed 13-year sentences for manslaughter following a trial at the Old Bailey in 2020. Under the new rules, they could potentially be released after serving only half of their sentences, rather than the standard two-thirds. The incident occurred while PC Harper was responding to a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, and his widow, Lissie Harper, has described the current scheme as "deplorable ."
Why a pause on 700 releases isn't enough for Badenoch
While Prime Minister Andy Burnham has instructed his team to pause the sentencing changes, Kemi Badenoch argues that a mere suspension is insufficient.. The Conservative leader noted on X that the current polciy still allows for the early release of offenders on a daily basis, even while the review is pending.
The pause specifically affects a first tranche of approximately 700 prisoners who were scheduled for release in September . However, the broader policy still aims to impact up to 6,000 criminals . As reported by the source, the move threatens to plunge the prison system into fresh chaos, as officials must now scramble to redesign release plans for thousands of inmates who were expected to serve only a third of their sentences.
The unanswered questions for Justice Secretary Alex Norris
As the government moves into an "urgent review" phase, several critical uncertainties remain regarding the future of the Sentencing Act. It is not yet clear how Justice Secretary Alex Norris will balance the need to ease prison overcrowding with the mandate to minimize public risk.. Furthermore, the government has not specified whether the permanent exemptions demanded by Badenoch—specifically for rapists and child abusers—will be formally adopted into the final policy.
There is also no clear timeline for when the review will conclude or when the 6,000 scheduled releases will be reassessed. Finally, the government has yet to clarify if the specific legal distinction between manslaughter and murder will play a role in determining who remains eligible for early release under the revised guidelines.
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