Families affected by the early release scheme are “carrying the can” for the failure of previous governments to build enough prison places, Justice Secretary Alex Norris has said.
It comes after the Government apologised to the family of Pc Andrew Harper as two of his killers remain eligible for early release.
Some 5,000 people are expected to be released early under sentencing changes, down from 6,000 after ministers exempted rapists and child sex offenders as part of the scheme to tackle overcrowding in jails.
Mr Norris said he “wanted to go further” with the exemptions, but could not as the prison estate would fill up “very quickly”.
Speaking during a visit to HMP Welland Oaks, a prison under construction in Leicestershire, the Justice Secretary told reporters: “It is important we’ve been able to take out the offences that we have.
“Of course, we wanted to do more. I’ve had those conversations.
“Those are very, very difficult conversations because, quite rightly, families are really upset about it and they feel that they’re carrying the can for previous failures, and they’re right.
“That shouldn’t be the case.”
Talking about the early release scheme exemptions, he added: “We wanted to go further. We couldn’t.
“We can’t and then still have a viable prison estate.”
The Prison Governors’ Association (PGA) has criticised the late change to the policy, saying it had put “huge pressure” on prison staff, making mistakes “more likely”.
Asked about the potential impact of the exemptions, he said: “We’ve modelled it very carefully.
“I’m grateful for prison governors. I’m grateful for prison staff and indeed probation staff, who’ve been very patient during this pause because this has got a real day-to-day impact.”
Ministers announced on Monday that rapists and serious child sex offenders would be exempt from the early release scheme, after a review of the policy ordered by Andy Burnham shortly after he became Prime Minister.
The Government has pledged to deliver 14,000 new prison spaces by 2031.
Mr Norris confirmed that he had apologised to some families affected, including Pc Harper’s.
Two of his killers, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, remain eligible for early release after their 2020 convictions for manslaughter despite an outcry from the officer’s family that prompted a review of the early release plans.
The 28-year-old police officer sustained fatal injuries while responding to a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, in August 2019.
He died after getting caught in a strap attached to the back of a car and dragged down a country road as three teenage suspects fled the scene of the burglary.
The driver of the vehicle, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence and would not have been eligible for the Government’s scheme, but Cole and Bowers were sentenced to 13 years and are now eligible to be released halfway through their sentences.
Pc Harper’s wife Lissie Harper has expressed anger at the prospect they could be released early, calling it “an affront to justice” and “an utter betrayal”.
His mother, Debbie Adlam, said the family was “bitterly disappointed” by the decision, telling the BBC: “Andrew deserves better than this, and so do we.”
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