Are victims at the heart of early release decisions?

Like many people, I have followed the debate around the Government's prison early release scheme with great interest. It is a complex issue, and I recognise the difficult position. Years of underinvestment in prison capacity and wider pressures within the criminal justice system have left us facing hard choices. It would be wrong to pretend there are easy answers.

However, I do believe there should be more exemptions from early release arrangements, and there have been a number of cases highlighted by campaigners that have my support.

Every day, police officers, firefighters, paramedics, prison officers and other frontline workers put themselves in harm's way to protect the public. When they are assaulted or in the most extreme cases killed in the course of their duties, it is not only an attack on an individual, but also an attack on the people and services that keep our communities safe.

The case of PC Andrew Harper remains one of the most shocking and heartbreaking examples. His offenders dragged him behind a car for a mile. His family have campaigned to ensure the criminal justice system properly recognises the seriousness of crimes committed against emergency workers. Their courage and determination have my upmost respect and support.

More broadly, I think decisions around early release need to take greater account of the impact on victims and their families. Victims often carry the consequences of crime for years, sometimes for the rest of their lives. Their voices must be heard, and their concerns considered, whenever significant decisions are made about an offender's sentence. Victims of domestic abuse are a good example of this, regardless of the offence their perpetrator has been charged with.

That said, simply keeping more people in prison for longer cannot be the only answer. If we are serious about reducing crime and easing pressures on our prisons, we also need to get serious about rehabilitation and crime prevention. Too many people leave custody only to reoffend, creating more victims and placing even greater strain on the system. Breaking that cycle must be a national priority.

That’s why I want to see greater investment in evidence-based rehabilitation programmes that help offenders address the causes of their offending and build positive futures. Locally, initiatives such as the Prisoners’ Building Homes programme demonstrate the value of early intervention, and practical opportunities to change behaviour. Preventing people from becoming repeat offenders is not a soft option; it is one of the most effective ways of protecting the public and reducing future demand on the criminal justice system.

Ultimately, we need a system that balances punishment, public protection, victim confidence and rehabilitation. Future reforms must put victims at the heart of decision-making while also tackling the underlying causes of reoffending, creating a safer and more effective justice system for everyone.