Police chiefs in England and Wales have voiced strong criticism of the Labour party's forthcoming Sentencing Act, which is set to implement early prisoner release measures beginning in September. Senior officers stated that the act will place a significant demand on local police forces, requiring them to manage potential reoffending and reassure victims.
Under the new Sentencing Act, some prisoners will be eligible for release after serving one-third of their sentence for good behavior, a reduction from the current two-thirds. Others will be released at the halfway point of their sentences. Chief Constable Trevor Rodenhurst, the National Police Chiefs Council lead for Regional Organised Crime Units, described the situation as "significant demand potentially across England and Wales for policing," adding that "policing who's at the thin end of the wedge on that." He characterized the early release scheme as "another ask on policing because another part of the system isn't geared to take the demand it needs to."
Deputy Chief Constable Wendy Gunney, NPCC lead for serious and organised crime, acknowledged that early release schemes have a "quite significant" impact on local forces. While stating that efforts are being made to risk-assess individuals, she admitted the full impact remains uncertain. The Ministry of Justice has already begun notifying victims whose offenders may qualify for early release.
The implementation of the Sentencing Act follows other political developments, including the resignation of Lord Timpson as prisons minister. Members of Prime Minister Andy Burnham's team are reportedly reviewing measures to exclude child sex offenders from the early release scheme.
Concerns about the Sentencing Act have been echoed by political figures. Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, stated that "No rapist, paedophile or child groomer should ever be let out early from prison," and criticized the act for allowing offenders of violent and sexual crimes to be released earlier than their sentences dictate. Chief Inspector of Constabulary Michelle Skeer warned that the new law could "create opportunities for further reoffending" by sex offenders, particularly in light of existing strain on police resources investigating online child sex abuse reports. Skeer suggested that reducing prison sentences and increasing early releases could "increase the risk to the public."