{"text":[[{"start":7.44,"text":"Serious sexual offenders will be barred from the government’s early prison release scheme, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said, as he sought to quell concerns about the programme."}],[{"start":16.1,"text":"Under the scheme, which is now due to come into effect in October, some offenders will qualify for automatic release after serving half their sentences instead of two-thirds, provided they have not seriously breached prison rules."}],[{"start":28.06,"text":"The plan, which began under Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government and which was expanded by Sir Keir Starmer in 2024, was meant to relieve the prison network’s dangerous overcrowding."}],[{"start":38.72,"text":"But it has instead provoked ire from rightwing opposition parties, which have framed it as a sign of Labour’s soft touch on crime, as well as from victims’ campaigners."}],[{"start":47.48,"text":"In response to those concerns, Burnham said on Monday that he was making “significant changes” to the programme by blocking those sentenced to prison terms for “rape, serious child sex offences and other grooming offences” from being eligible."}],[{"start":59.56,"text":"“Keeping the public safe is my top priority,” he said. “I fully understand the anger, anxiety and distress that’s been caused.”"}],[{"start":67.76,"text":"Burnham requested a review into the policy days after becoming prime minister last month, after a furore over the potential early release of two men jailed for the manslaughter of serving police officer Andrew Harper in 2019."}],[{"start":80.76,"text":"Burnham said that while he “wanted to go even further” on barring more offenders from the scheme, the prison system’s dangerous lack of capacity made it impossible."}],[{"start":89.32,"text":"Those on life sentences are already ineligible for the scheme, as are those deemed by a court to be the most dangerous offenders."}],[{"start":95.96,"text":"The prison network came within days of collapse on multiple occasions in 2023 and 2024, according to an independent review last year."}],[{"start":104.4,"text":"Burnham added that adult male prisons were currently operating at 98 per cent capacity, criticising previous governments for failing to invest in prison building."}],[{"start":113.28,"text":"In contrast, he said, his government would oversee “the fastest prison-building programme since the Victorian era”, creating 14,000 new prison places by 2031."}],[{"start":123.2,"text":"Alex Norris, justice secretary, said: “These are decisions no minister would ever want to take but it is right these sickening crimes are excluded from these reforms."}],[{"start":133.12,"text":"“Victims will also have access to better support and reassurance that offenders leaving prison face tougher supervision and punishment.”"}],[{"start":141.04,"text":"Nick Timothy MP, the Conservatives’ shadow justice secretary, said the announcement was “a victory for victims” but “doesn’t go far enough”."}],[{"start":150.24,"text":"“Some child sex offenders and killers, like those responsible for the death of PC Harper, will still be released early,” he said. “And the trauma of victims being told their abusers may be released cannot be undone.”"}],[{"start":168.59,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1785818672_3260.mp3"}