SNP urged to follow Burnham and exempt rapists from early release amid fears 'public safety at risk'

The Scottish government is proposing long-term prisoners including sexual offenders can be automatically released after serving just two thirds of their sentence.

Rapists to be blocked from early release— but not PC Andrew Harper’s killers  The Times

Two of PC Harper’s killers would still qualify for early release despite Prime Minister Andy Burnham announcing changes to the scheme

Prime Minister Andy Burnham says offenders will also face tighter community supervision, including new GPS monitoring for rapists to restrict movements

Pc Harper’s mother says family ‘paying the price’ for early release scheme  ITVX

Two of Pc Harper’s killers would still qualify for early release despite Prime Minister Andy Burnham announcing changes to the scheme.

Rapists and child sex offenders will be barred from the scheme, which will restart in October, the government says.

Debbie Adlam, mother of PC Andrew Harper, says her family will "pay the price" after learning that killers Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers remain eligible for early release

The Prime Minister paused the controversial plans last month after a public outcry over the proposed release of two of the killers of PC Andrew Harper.

Lissie Harper said she is 'bristling with anger'Abbie Llewelyn, Press Association political staff and Ethan Davies Local Democracy Reporter00:40, 04 Aug 2026The decision to delay early prisoner releases and allow PC Andrew Harper's killers to walk free from jail has been slammed by as a "betrayal" by his widow.‌Lissie

Lissie Harper said she is 'bristling with anger'Abbie Llewelyn, Press Association political staff and Ethan Davies00:36, 04 Aug 2026PC Andrew Harper's widow has slammed Andy Burnham over allowing her husband's killers to walk free from prison after the Prime Minister delayed plans to stop early jail releases.‌Lissie Ha

The new PM said he 'wanted to go even further' with the prison release scheme but has delayed the move

The Prime Minister has delayed plans to stop early prison releases, which means the men who killed PC Andrew Harper in the line of duty will be able to walk out of jail

Andy Burnham blocks cuts to sentences for grooming gang rapists as PM vows: 'Public safety is my top priority!'  GB News

PM said he ‘wanted to go even further’ but that it would not be possible without the prison system collapsing

People jailed for rape, serious child sex offences and grooming will be excluded from the upcoming early release scheme, the government has announced.

Review goes down to the wire after ministers speak with victims’ representatives and support services Andy Burnham is focused on preventing the release of child sexual abuse perpetrators as part of the government’s early release scheme, as urgent talks on which serious criminals could be exempted go down to the wire. G

A Kentucky child killer who butchered a sleeping boy to death but was acquitted by reason of insanity was released from prison on Wednesday– as the boy's father fumed at the judicial system.