Labour’s sentencing reforms (Image: Getty)
Killers, rapists, paedophiles and burglars will be able to walk out from prison early within months as Labour were accused of a “betrayal” of victims. The Ministry of Justice’s hugely controversial sentencing reforms received Royal Assent on Thursday, despite widespread concern from campaigners and families.
Some 43,000 criminals will avoid jail altogether while many convicts will be out after spending just a third of their jail term in prison. And those sentenced to four years or more will only be let out after serving 50% of their sentence behind bars.
The so-called “progression model” will come into force this Autumn. The MoJ insisted the changes were necessary to prevent prisons from overflowing.
Justice sources told the Daily Express that, because the reforms apply “retrospectively”, thousands of criminals already behind bars will effectively benefit from shorter sentences. This means some rapists who would have been forced to spend two thirds of their terms in prison could automatically become eligible for release later this year.
Criminals will be released in tranches because justice chiefs want to ensure police and probation officers are prepared for an influx of potentially dangerous criminals into communities across the UK.
It will take two years to get through the entire cohort already behind bars, the Ministry of Justice said.
Criminals jailed from the Autumn onwards will automatically be on the “progression model”, which aims to reward good behaviour behind bars.
Nick Timothy MP, Shadow Justice Secretary, said: “Labour are ploughing ahead with policies that will let thousands of serious violent and sexual offenders, including rapists and paedophiles, out of prison and onto our streets.
“This means more criminals on the loose, more victims without justice, and more pressure on an already overstretched police force.
“Keir Starmer has been warned, but he does not have the backbone to lead and take the difficult decisions Britain needs.”
Reform’s Robert Jenrick said: “These sentencing changes will make the British people less safe. Our streets already feel lawless and allowing criminals to get out of prison having served as little as a third of their sentence is certain to cause chaos.”
Shadow Justice Minister Kieran Mullan said: “This bill is a betrayal of the victims it claims to help.
“Victims never agreed to a trade-off – their day in court in exchange for watching thousands of rapists, paedophiles and seriously violent criminals walk out of prison early.
“Tens of thousands of offenders will now only have to serve only a third of their sentence.
“That is an insult to justice and the Labour and Liberal a Democrat MPs that voted for that should be ashamed of themselves. There are challenges in the justice system – this is not how you meet them.”
The Conservatives have warned more than 6,500 dangerous offenders – including those jailed for rape, stalking, child grooming and child sex offences – could have their jail time cut.
Labour’s changes will also benefit over 62 per cent of jailed rapists, as 624 of the 994 offenders jailed each year for rape will be eligible for reduced time in prison.
Killers will also get out early, though murderers will be excluded from the hugely controversial scheme.
It comes after the Sunday Express revealed child sex abusers locked up for “some of the worst possible offences” could be let out after spending just a third of their jail term behind bars.
This is because only the most “serious” offenders will be forced to spend half of their sentence in prison, a cut from the current 67%. This list includes those convicted of rape and assault by penetration.
But perverts caught making, distributing or publishing child sex abuse images and fiends jailed for sexual activity with a child could spend just a third of their sentence behind bars.
In total, 85 per cent of the most serious jailed offenders are included in the reductions – more than 6,500 of the most jailed serious offenders, including rapists, paedophiles, stalkers, violent attackers, and even attempted murderers, will qualify for early release.
Most convicts will be tagged and electronically monitored as ministers try to avoid a repeat of the overcrowding crisis.
At one point last Autumn, justice chiefs feared a total breakdown in law and order with police unable to arrest criminals because there would be nowhere to take them.
Only the most extreme offenders will be refused the right to leave prison at the halfway point
Criminals will, for the first time, be tagged before they leave prison in a bid to prevent them wreaking havoc in communities.
Commenting on Royal Assent, Sentencing Minister Jake Richards said: “This government inherited a prison system bursting at the seams and at breaking point – risking the total breakdown of law and order in this country.
“Urgent, bold action was needed to keep the public safe. These reforms will make sure prisons never run out of space again and dangerous offenders are kept off our streets, while putting victims first with much tougher punishments for offenders outside jail.
“We are already delivering the biggest prison expansion since the Victorian era, but the reality is we cannot just build our way out of the chaos – it must go hand in hand with radical reform to avoid another ticking timebomb.”
Source link
