Victims warned of early release of attackers under prison scheme

Victims of serious sexual and violent crimes in England and Wales have been warned that their attackers could be released early from prison starting in September under the government's prison release scheme. The warnings have come in letters sent to victims, prompting widespread concern about public safety and the handling of the process.

In interviews, several women described the emotional impact of receiving such letters. One victim said: "You go through a court process, you go through any kind of abuse, and you go through the court process, and then after, they're only going to get a slap on the wrist." Another said: "I have dreams of just imagining my perpetrator smug and knowing that he's won all over again, because that's how I feel." A third victim, who said it took her 35 years to get justice, added: "He's going to be out after six. I'm tired of fighting, and now I've got to fight to keep him in prison."

Former safeguarding minister Jess Phillips, who was in office when the bill was going through Parliament, defended the policy in an interview. She acknowledged that the bill would mean releasing some rapists, child groomers, and domestic abusers, but said risk assessments were put in place to manage safety. She said: "Absolutely that some of these people would get out. So that is why I sought to have risk assessments put in place and fought back against the idea of just instant release."

However, Phillips faced criticism for voting against a Conservative amendment in October 2025 that would have excluded rapists, pedophiles, and groomers from early release. She argued that the prisons crisis meant some form of release was necessary to keep the system functioning. "If we do not have some form of prison release, just like the Tories had on all of these categories, then we will not be able to lock people up," she said.

When asked whether she was confident the bill would not create more victims, Phillips replied: "I am not currently, no." She added that there was still "huge amounts of work still to be done" to ensure the process was safe and victim-centred. She also criticised the way victims had been notified, saying: "Carol shouldn't have received that letter is my absolute view. Frankly, I think that it has been handled appallingly."

The interview came as a 14-year-old boy was charged with a terrorism offence linked to extreme right-wing terrorism, relating to an alleged plan to target two mosques in the Sutton area of South London.