英国首相安迪·伯纳姆宣布修改监狱早期释放计划，将强奸犯、严重儿童性虐待者和诱骗者排除在外[1]。这一政策调整同时将原定9月的整体释放计划延迟至10月[1]。根据新规，服刑4年以上的囚犯将有资格在刑期中点而非三分之二处释放[1]。原计划释放6,000名罪犯，监狱预计在11月满员[1]。
然而，家庭暴力施暴者和部分杀人犯仍将被提前释放，包括与警官安德鲁·哈珀之死相关的杰西·科尔和阿尔伯特·鲍尔斯[1]。这一决定引发广泛批评。家庭虐待专员达姆·妮可·雅各布斯称排除家暴施暴者的决定是"错误的"，"让受害者生命处于危险中"[1]。警察联合会主席蒂夫·林奇表示允许杀害警官的人早期释放"严重冒犯了公共安全"[1]。政府宣布为受害者支持项目拨款1000万英镑[1]。
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced modifications to the prison early release programme on Tuesday, barring rapists, child sex abusers, and groomers from the scheme [1]. The announcement also delayed the overall release programme from September to October [1]. Under the revised policy, prisoners serving sentences of four years or more will become eligible for release at the midpoint of their sentence rather than at the two-thirds mark [1].
The government's decision, however, continues to allow the release of domestic abusers and certain murderers, including two individuals connected to the death of police officer Andrew Harper [1]. The original plan anticipated releasing 6,000 prisoners, with prisons expected to reach full capacity by November [1]. The government announced a £10 million funding allocation for victim support programmes [1].
The policy modifications have drawn criticism from advocates for victims' rights and law enforcement. Dame Nicole Jacobs, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, called the decision to exclude domestic abusers a "mistake" that "puts victims' lives in danger" [1]. Police Federation chairman Steve Lynch stated that permitting the early release of those convicted of killing a police officer "seriously undermines public safety" [1].