Prime Minister Andy Burnham is reportedly taking daily calls from Ministry of Justice officials regarding the government’s early release scheme. This follows a public outcry after it emerged the plan might include two of PC Andrew Harper's killers and other serious sexual offenders.
Mr Burnham has stated he is "increasingly confident" the scheme can be adapted to exclude PC Harper's killers. He had previously intervened to exempt grooming gang members, rapists, and those convicted of "serious" child sexual offences.
Justice Secretary Alex Norris has been tasked with fast-tracking measures to create more prison space and is scheduled to report to parliament early next month. The early release scheme was introduced by former Prime Minister Keir Starmer to address overcrowding in prisons across England and Wales.
Probation officers voted yesterday in favour of strike action due to excessive workloads, which they expect to worsen when the scheme begins in the autumn.