Convicted killers of PC Harper remain incarcerated as Prime Minister unveils reforms to early release policy

The Prime Minister stated that this objective would be partially accomplished by discontinuing Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences.

These sentences were issued between 2005 and 2012 to offenders deemed to pose a significant risk of serious harm to the public.

Once an inmate has completed the minimum term, release can only be granted if the Parole Board determines that continued confinement is no longer necessary for public safety, resulting in many individuals being held indefinitely.

The Prime Minister explained that he had exercised “common sense” regarding IPPs, an issue he had “long-standing concerns” about.

“I was confronted with a situation where individuals on those sentences who had more than served their time were not being released, while others who had committed very serious crimes were being released early,” he told the BBC.

“My judgment is that the public would prefer a system where those who have served their time are considered for release before those who have not.”

According to Ministry of Justice data, 2,271 people were serving IPP sentences as of June. Of these, 856 had never been released because the Parole Board concluded it would not be safe to do so.

The Prime Minister acknowledged that among those offenders, there will be “individuals who pose a risk to communities,” and announced the establishment of a cross-party oversight group.

He added that the government would introduce legislation to terminate these sentences by the “end of this Parliament.”

When questioned about the number of foreign prisoners who could be repatriated, the Prime Minister indicated it was “hundreds.”

The government has announced that powers will be introduced early next year to deport certain foreign criminals immediately after sentencing.

These measures would prevent foreign prisoners from ever returning to the country while ensuring “those imprisoned for the most serious crimes remain incarcerated for a substantial period before removal.”

The government is not believed to have established any new prisoner returns agreements with other countries.

It is understood that efforts have also commenced to increase capacity within existing prisons by repurposing space currently used for other functions.

None of the measures announced are expected to generate significant additional prison capacity before the first group of prisoners is released early in October.

The Prime Minister is reported to have made a “political decision” to utilize some of the remaining capacity in the prison system to ensure the newly announced changes could be implemented without delay.

In addition to those convicted of manslaughter, the Prime Minister confirmed that prisoners convicted of indecent assault offences and death by dangerous driving will also remain in prison.

Historic child sex offences and causing or allowing the death of a child will likewise be excluded from the early release scheme, alongside the introduction of new “restriction zones” designed to better safeguard domestic violence survivors from perpetrators released early.

The Prime Minister stated that the additional changes announced on Sunday would result in “hundreds” more prisoners remaining incarcerated.

The Justice Secretary is anticipated to provide a more precise figure regarding the number of affected individuals when he delivers a statement in Parliament on Tuesday.

Earlier this month, the Prime Minister announced that prisoners convicted of rape, serious child sex offences, and grooming would be excluded from early release eligibility.

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