Burnham ‘personally intervened’ over possible early prison release of grooming gang perpetrators

Andy Burnham’s government has personally intervened to urgently identify grooming gang perpetrators who might be eligible for early prison release due to a loophole in sentencing changes. While ministers excluded grooming gang members, rapists, and serious child sex offenders from the early release scheme, some men convicted in historical cases under older laws (such as indecent assault) may not be covered by the exemptions. About 5,000 people are still expected to be released early under the plan to reduce prison overcrowding.