Andy Burnham has ordered the Ministry of Justice to halt the early release of prisoners amid outrage at the prospect of two of Pc Andrew Harper’s killers being freed from jail.

The Prime Minister said no prisoners would be freed under the scheme until the Government had reviewed it and “done everything we can to minimise risk to the public”.

The move threatens to plunge a prison system struggling with overcrowding into fresh chaos, as officials face having to work out new release plans for thousands of offenders just weeks before they were due to be freed.

Some 6,000 prisoners, including killers, rapists and other violent criminals, had been set to be freed in monthly tranches from Sept 2.

Mr Burnham had announced a review of the scheme on Wednesday after The Telegraph disclosed that Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole were due to be freed early halfway through their 13-year sentences for the manslaughter of Harper in 2019.

However, on Wednesday evening, government officials insisted the scheme would still go ahead in September when some 700 prisoners were scheduled to be freed.

But by Thursday afternoon the Prime Minister announced he had instructed officials “to put a pause on the changes”.

“No prisoners will be let out under this policy until we have conducted an urgent review and done everything we can to minimise risk to the public. Where changes are needed, we will not hesitate to make them,” he said.

Neither Downing Street nor the MoJ have set a date for when they expect the scheme to be implemented again, if at all, saying it would depend on the outcome of the review. Alex Norris, the Justice Secretary, said he would not preempt the review and asked victims: “Give us a little bit more time.”

Under the scheme, serious criminals – including killers, rapists and child groomers – are eligible for release halfway through their sentences rather than two-thirds of the way through, provided they have not committed any serious rule breaches while in prison.

Criminals convicted of less serious offences are eligible to be freed as little as a third of the way through their sentences.

Mr Burnham is under pressure from MPs, victims, police and front-line prison officers to exempt the most serious offenders from the scheme, including killers, rapists, child groomers and those convicted of serious violence against emergency workers.

On Wednesday, Lissie Harper, Pc Harper’s widow, said it was “deplorable that we have reached a point where releasing prisoners early is even considered acceptable”.

Harper had been investigating the theft of a quad bike in August 2019 when he was dragged more than a mile on country roads in the perpetrators’ getaway car.

On Thursday, The Telegraph revealed that a driver who had killed a 20-year-old woman in a crash and was said by police to be the “drunkest ever seen” was set to be released from jail early under the scheme.

Malcolm Waite, 72, had struck Fenella Hawes on the pavement as she walked home before driving on until he hit a road sign and trees a mile away. He was four times over the alcohol limit.

He was jailed for eight years in 2022 after admitting causing death by dangerous driving, but Hawes’s family were told that he was scheduled to be released early after serving half of his sentence rather than two-thirds.

Her sister Rosemary Shepherd called for anyone who had caused a death to be exempted from early release, saying reducing Waite’s sentence was “no deterrent” to him doing it again. She said her family was “petrified” about seeing him free on local streets.

Mark Fairhurst, chairman of the prison officers’ association, backed her calls, saying the Government should exempt violent and sexual offenders so victims felt “justice has been served”.

“I would hope that in line with other early release schemes that those convicted of violent offences, sexual offences and with convictions for domestic violence would not get early release,” he told The Telegraph.

“If you look at the cases that have been highlighted, like the killers of Pc Andrew Harvey and the drunk driver who killed a student, these are serious offences where they should not be released early. From the victim’s point of view, justice has not been served. It needs to be put right.”

Meanwhile, a woman who was kidnapped and sexually abused at 14 called for the early release scheme to be abandoned entirely.

Writing in The Telegraph, Thea Sewell said she had been told her attacker’s sentence might be shortened. She said: “Mr Burnham, this scheme may belong to Keir Starmer’s government. But the choice and the responsibility to kill it entirely is now yours.”

David Gauke, the former Tory justice secretary whose report on sentencing for Labour framed the early release scheme, said there might be scope for the Government to introduce “narrowly focused” exemptions that could apply, for example, to violent criminals who had attacked police.

But he added: “The problem is that there’s no easy way to draw a line which doesn’t either still leave some controversial cases or increase substantially the prison population.”

Officials have warned that prisons in England and Wales will run out of space by November if the measures in the early release scheme are abandoned.

Alex Chalk, the former Tory justice secretary, said Labour should never have made the changes to sentences retrospective as it “pulled the rug” from under victims. He said they should only have been applied to people convicted after the rules came into force.

He added that Britain would not solve its prison overcrowding crisis unless it considered alternatives such as Australian dormitory-style prisons for lower-level offenders, which could be built at a third of the cost of a modern prison and in a third of the time. A new prison costs £600m and takes six years to build.

Asked about the future of the sentencing law on Thursday, Mr Norris said the Government wanted to give victims “certainty” as soon as possible but would not “run ahead” of the Government’s review

Addressing victims, he added: “Give us a little bit more time. We’ve put an important pause on this policy. It gives us a little bit of time to look at this, to make sure we do our best by you.”

Prison governors and officers warned that denying inmates an early release after they had expected it could lead to a backlash. “There is a risk attached to that and how they respond to that. It adds to the frustration,” said one senior governor.

“You thought you were getting out for your son’s birthday but now you are not going to. There’s certainly the potential for a backlash in prisons.”

Zia Yusuf, Reform’s spokesman for home affairs, said: “Reform will deport all foreign nationals in our jails and use the space to end early release so violent criminals stay where they belong: in jail.”

Tania Bassett, national officer for Napo, the union that represents probation officers, warned there was a “sense of chaos” without any clarity on whether her members should continue working on release plans.

“This is really worrying for our members who are currently working hard on pre-release work for those due to come out in September. It was already an incredibly short timeframe to meet the implementation date.

“This review could potentially reduce the timeframes even further, putting more pressure on our already overworked members.”

Burnham Orders Halt to Early Release of Prisoners

The decision by Andy Burnham to order a halt to the early release of prisoners has created significant debate about the future of the criminal justice system. The move reflects growing concerns about public safety, the management of offenders, and the challenges facing prisons across the United Kingdom.

The early release of prisoners has been used as a way to reduce pressure on overcrowded prisons. With many facilities struggling to cope with increasing numbers of inmates, governments have considered releasing some prisoners before the completion of their full sentences under strict conditions. Supporters argue that this approach helps manage limited prison space and allows resources to focus on more serious offenders.

However, the policy has also faced criticism. Some members of the public and political figures believe that releasing prisoners early could create risks for communities if individuals are not properly supervised after leaving prison. Concerns about repeat offences and the ability of authorities to monitor released prisoners have contributed to calls for a stricter approach.

Andy Burnham’s order to stop early releases highlights the importance of public confidence in the justice system. Many people expect the government and local authorities to ensure that criminals serve appropriate sentences and that communities remain safe. By halting early releases, Burnham has signalled that protecting the public should be a priority.

At the same time, the decision raises questions about how the prison system will deal with rising numbers of inmates. If fewer prisoners are released early, prisons may face even greater pressure. Overcrowding can lead to problems such as limited space, increased tension among prisoners, and greater demands on prison officers.

The situation shows the difficult balance that policymakers must achieve. A justice system must punish those who commit crimes while also providing opportunities for rehabilitation. Simply keeping more people in prison may not solve long-term problems unless there are effective programmes to reduce reoffending and help former prisoners return to society.

There are also wider social factors behind prison overcrowding. Issues such as poverty, unemployment, addiction, and mental health problems can contribute to criminal behaviour. Addressing these causes may reduce crime levels and lower pressure on prisons in the future.

The debate over early prisoner release reflects a broader discussion about how the UK should manage crime and punishment. Some people believe stricter sentences are necessary to protect society, while others argue that rehabilitation and prevention are equally important.

In conclusion, Andy Burnham’s decision to halt the early release of prisoners demonstrates the challenges involved in managing the criminal justice system. While the move may increase public confidence and address safety concerns, it also creates new pressures for prisons already facing difficulties. A successful approach will require a combination of effective law enforcement, proper prison management, and long-term investment in preventing crime.