'A slap in the face for victims': Fury at Labour plans to allow killers, rapists and domestic abusers out of jail earlier in bid to ease prison overcrowding

Daily Mail​

22-05-2025

Proposals to allow killers and rapists out of jail earlier have today been described as a 'slap in the face' for victims.
An independent sentencing review has called for criminals convicted of serious violence or sex offences to win their freedom after serving half their jail term, rather than at the current three quarters point – a one third reduction.
The Government indicated it would accept the measure 'in principle' – along with a raft of other measures expected to see tens of thousands fewer criminals sent to jail each year.
The wide-ranging review by former Tory justice secretary David Gauke also recommended rolling out a scheme of voluntary 'chemical castration' for sex offenders.
The proposals - which the Tories described as a 'gift to criminals' and a 'slap in the face for victims' - would free up 9,800 prison spaces by 2028 as ministers grapple with an overcrowding crisis.
They have also been criticised by Dame Nicole Jacobs, Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, who said that by adopting these measures ministers would 'be sending a clear message to domestic abusers that they can now offend with little consequence'.
Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick warned that scrapping short sentences would be effectively 'decriminalising' offences like burglary, theft and assault.
'This is a gift to criminals who will be free to offend with impunity,' he said.
'If Starmer proceeds with halving sentences for dangerous offenders like killers, rapists and paedophiles that would be a slap in the face for victims.'
Meanwhile, campaign group Justice for Victims claimed the review weighted the justice system in criminals' favour.
'What we wanted to see was a proper recognition of the enormous impact the most serious crime has on victims and their families and to see that suitable punishment reflects that,' a spokesman said.
'Instead it recommends some of the most serious offenders, like rapists & child abusers, are going to spend less time in prison.'
The lower automatic release date would apply to offenders convicted of 'rape, manslaughter, soliciting murder, attempted murder and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm', the official review said.
Only those who are well behaved in prison would be eligible, with others forced to wait longer for freedom.
The review made a separate recommendation which would have offered similar early release dates to the very worst violent and sexual offenders, who are deemed 'dangerous' by the courts and handed a so-called 'extended determinate sentence'.
But ministers are set to reject this component of the package, it is understood.
The long-awaited independent report said long jail terms currently handed out for serious violent and sexual crimes are 'unbalanced in comparison to other offences', under so-called 'standard determinate sentences' (SDS).
'The proposal for the SDS cohort of serious sexual and violent offences is to alter the release points so that the expectation is that most offenders would be released at the halfway point if they have engaged constructively with the prison regime,' it said.
'All remaining offenders in this cohort would be released from custody by the two thirds point of their sentence at the latest.
'These offenders would then be supervised in the community in the post-custody stage until 80 per cent of the way through their sentence.'
It added that it would 'increase transparency of custodial sentences for offenders and victims'.
The review said most non-violent offenders would be released after serving just one third of their sentence if they demonstrated good behaviour in jail.
Under an existing early release scheme introduced Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood in the autumn most criminals are let out after serving 40 per cent of their sentence.
The 192-page report, published today, said across all types of offences the new early release measures would save about 4,100 prison places by 'incentivising good behaviour in custody'.
Chemical castration for sex offenders should be explored more widely, the review went on.
There is currently a pilot scheme offering offenders drugs which suppress sexual desire, and the review said officials should drawn up an 'evidence base' on the effectiveness of the treatment.
Any scheme rolled out across England and Wales would be on a voluntary basis rather than compulsory, officials said.
But last night the Government said it would go further and look at forcing sex offenders to take the drugs.
Ms Mahmood is 'now exploring whether chemical castration could be made mandatory, instead of merely voluntary', a Ministry of Justice source said.
Ministers should also consider approving new types of medication for offenders with drug and alcohol problems, the review urged.
In one of its most wide-ranging recommendations, the report said short jail sentences of less than 12 months should only be imposed in 'exceptional circumstances'.
This would free up 2,000 prison places at any one time, by imposing many thousands fewer short jail terms each year.
It made a series of recommendations to improve community sentences so they can be used as a 'robust alternative to custody'.
For example, courts should be able to ban criminals from driving even if their offence is not motoring-related, it said, and there should be increased use of electronic tagging.
Criteria for recall to jail for breaching the terms of release should be tightened, it added, along with the introduction of a 56-day fixed recall period.
Foreign criminals should be deported immediately if they received sentences of less than three years, and at an earlier point if they were handed longer terms, it said.
Although murder was outside the scope of the review, it said there should be further work to look at whether current punishments for the crime are appropriate.
The Law Commission should 'look at the minimum tariffs custodial sentence lengths for for sentencing for murder', it said.
In further recommendations that could lead to shorter jail terms, it said maximum penalties for a range of offences - including drugs - should be reviewed.
It said they were leading to 'unintended consequences' and appeared to suggest 10 years should normally be a ceiling for such crimes.
Minimum sentences for offences such as gun crime and persistent burglars should also be looked at again, it went on, because they contribute to 'sentence inflation'.
Ms Mahmood set up the review last year and tasked it with devising a long-term plan to free up space in overcrowded jails.
Since last summer she has introduced a series of emergency measures which she said were necessary to avoid a 'total breakdown of law and order'.
David Gauke, who led the review for Labour, said: 'These recommendations, which span the entirety of the justice system, are focused not only on bringing the prison population under control but ultimately reducing reoffending and ensuring victims are protected.
'Taken as a package, these measures should ensure the government is never again in a position where it is forced to rely on the emergency release of prisoners.
'I urge the Lord Chancellor and Prime Minister to act with bravery in their response.'
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick blasted the proposals.
'By scrapping short prison sentences [PM Sir Keir] Starmer is effectively decriminalising crimes like burglary, theft and assault,' he said.
'This is a gift to criminals who will be free to offend with impunity.
'If Starmer proceeds with halving sentences for dangerous offenders like killers, rapists and paedophiles that would be a slap in the face for victims.
'These people must be properly punished and locked up so they can't terrorise communities.'
Mr Jenrick added: 'If Starmer brought forward emergency measures to deport foreign criminals and get courts sitting longer we would support him, but instead he's determined to see fewer criminals go to jail and risk the safety of the public.'
The National Police Chiefs Council reacted cautiously to the proposals, and warned they must not be allowed to damage public trust in the criminal justice system.
Spokesman Chief Constable Sacha Hatchett said: 'We recognise the urgent need to relieve the pressure on our prison system and that this requires difficult decisions from government.
'However, out of prison should not mean out of control.
'If we are going to have fewer people in prison, we need to ensure that we collectively have the resources and powers to manage the risk offenders pose outside of prison.'
She added: 'It is crucial for public safety that high-risk offenders, including those convicted of violent or sexual offences, and those who pose a threat to national security, are exempt from early prison release.
'Robust prison sentences for these crimes must remain in place as a strong deterrent and means of keeping the public safe.
'Trust and confidence in the criminal justice system must not be lost through these reforms, and where offenders are receiving community sentences, we need to ensure they are demanding, robustly enforced and with a consequence for those that do not comply.'
Victims' Commissioner Baroness Newlove also expressed reservations.'
'The pace of change feels urgent, as if we are racing against the clock,' she said. 'I appreciate the reasons for urgency, but this speed exacerbates my reservations.
'My overriding concern is whether the already stretched probation service can withstand this additional pressure. The review also recommends early release for prisoners who behave in prison.
'Compliance with prison regimes is important, but other important factors must also be taken into account, such as remorse, and evidence of a reduction in risk.'
The review's recommendations are expected to be included in a forthcoming sentencing bill.