𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Andy Burnham’s disastrous prison early release scheme could lead to more people being murdered, raped and sexually assaulted, a watchdog has warned. Martin Jones, the chief inspector of probation services, admitted officers may not be able to cope with thousands of criminals being released early.

And Mr Jones warned that could lead to more violent crime. Asked about the potential dangers facing the public, Mr Jones told the BBC on Wednesday: “That could be a serious sexual or violent offence, or even murder.

“The worst that can happen is that things are missed, plans aren’t put into place and we don’t give people the level of service they need and that leads to serious further offences.”

The probation service is already managing more than 250,000 cases.

But Labour’s early release scheme will increase “that pressure considerably”.

He added: “Ultimately, I’m not fully confident that the probation system will be able to cope with this massive work and there’s a risk that things will go wrong.”

Some 5,000 people expected to be released early under sentencing changes will need to be managed by probation staff.

Mr Burnham, in a desperate bid to create spaces behind bars, said men could be moved into female prisons.

And he said some of those serving Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences, an indeterminate jail term, could be released.

But this proposal has sparked criticism, with Labour now accused of mulling the release of some “very dangerous, sick individuals”.

The open-ended punishments were scrapped in 2012, but not retrospectively, leaving thousands indefinitely. Those who have been released have often been recalled to prison for breaches of licence conditions.

Senior Reform UK politician Robert Jenrick declared Mr Burnham “is currently working out how much danger he’s going to put everyone in”.

And he blasted plans to release IPP prisoners, adding: “These are people who have been judged to pose a serious risk to the public, or were allowed out, and proved to be untrustworthy.”

Mr Jenrick said: “Before you buy that all IPP prisoners are people who stole a laptop and ended up inside for decades, let’s be clear that some are very dangerous, sick individuals.

“Take Tracey Connelly: She was jailed in 2009 after admitting causing or allowing the death of her 17 month old son Peter – known as Baby P – at their home in Tottenham.

“He died after months of abuse. She’s actually already been released twice before by the Parole Board, and on each occasion had to be returned to jail.

“Is Burnham proposing to release her again? Is planning to override the judgement of the Parole Board as to who is safe or not?

“Is Burnham going to overlook serious breaches of licence that would normally warrant being put back inside? The truth is Burnham doesn’t know what he’s doing. It’s all a total mess.”

Campaigners are concerned that many victims – and the general public – will be put at risk by Labour’s plans.

Mr Jenrick added: “Thousands have been released early under Labour and thousands more will be. Many have reoffended already, and sadly, many more will do so.

“Law-abiding people will pay the price for Burnham and Labour’s incompetence and gutlessness.”

The urgent warning comes after police chiefs urged the prime minister to establish an “additional public protection safeguard” in cases involving violent and dangerous offenders, when changes to sentencing on release arrangements were considered.

The chief constables said: “Where an offender has caused a death, committed exceptionally serious violence, or presents an ongoing risk to individuals or communities, there should be explicit consideration of public protection, victim impact and community safety before release arrangements are amended.

“This principle should also apply to serious offences where there is a continuing risk of harm to victims or the public, including serious violence against women and girls, stalking and harassment.

“This is not simply a question of punishment. It is a question of ensuring that public protection, victim confidence and community safety remain central to decisions that may substantially reduce the time an offender spends in custody.”