The Politics of Prison Release: Burnham's Pause Creates More Questions Than Answers The decision to pause Andy Burnham's early release scheme for thousands of prisoners has left officials warning that prisons will run out of capacity by November, unless the scheme goes ahead.
The move was prompted by an outcry from victims' groups and a review ordered by the prime minister.
The Sentencing Act 2026 introduced an "earned progression model" to standard determinate sentences, aiming to bring about significant changes in prisoner release policies.