A government policy that could have seen some prisoners released significantly earlier than planned has been put on hold, a decision welcomed by survivors of sexual assault and victims' families. The Prime Minister announced a pause in the controversial scheme, which was intended to help alleviate severe prison overcrowding, stating that no prisoners would be freed under the policy until an urgent review had been conducted.
Jade Belgrove, 30, from Coventry, was among those who campaigned against the policy. She described receiving a "horrific" letter indicating that the man convicted of raping her could be released years early. Ms Belgrove's attacker, Simon Tyler, 38, from Kenilworth, was sentenced to nine years in prison in November 2024 for three counts of rape and one sexual assault offence. He had groomed her from the age of 12 before the assaults began when she was 14. For Ms Belgrove, who waited a decade to report the abuse, the prospect of his early release made her question the value of seeking justice.
The policy, linked to the Sentencing Act and initially due to come into effect in September 2026, would have allowed some offenders to be released after serving just a third of their sentence, rather than the standard half. This deviation sparked considerable concern from victim advocacy groups and individuals like Ms Belgrove, who felt their voices were being ignored. "It's such a relief that we've been heard," Ms Belgrove stated, adding that she would continue to fight for all survivors.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham confirmed the pause, emphasising that "keeping the public safe will always be my top priority." He further stated, "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. Where changes are needed, we will not hesitate to make them."
While acknowledging the challenges of prison overcrowding, Ms Belgrove stressed that "victims should never come second to that" and urged the Prime Minister to prioritise survivors' perspectives in the upcoming review of the early release scheme. The government's decision signals a potential re-evaluation of how it balances prison capacity issues with the rights and safety of victims.