UK PM Burnham may exempt child sex offenders from early release scheme

UK PM Andy Burnham is considering exempting child sex offenders and serious sexual abuse perpetrators from the early release scheme under the Sentencing Act 2026.

The scheme aims to ease prison overcrowding by releasing serious offenders after half their sentence and less serious offenders after one-third, instead of the current two-thirds or 40%.

The review follows warnings from victims' groups that early release could put survivors at greater risk, and a decision is expected within 24 hours.

The Conservatives are demanding emergency legislation to block early release for paedophiles, rapists, and killers, citing cases like the killers of Andrew Harper.