30 Families Urge UK to Bar Manslaughter Killers From 5,000-Release Scheme
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 29
30 Families Urge UK to Bar Manslaughter Killers From 5,000-Release Scheme
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 29
Summary
More than 30 bereaved families, including Nottingham victim Barnaby Webber’s mother Emma Webber, urged Justice Secretary Alex Norris to exclude all manslaughter convictions from England and Wales’ early-release plan.
Their letter says victims are being made to bear the prison-capacity crisis, warning that voluntary and diminished-responsibility manslaughter cases include some of the most serious domestic homicides.
The push comes after the government signaled it would change the scheme so the killers of PC Andrew Harper—convicted of unlawful act manslaughter—would not qualify, but broader manslaughter exclusions have not been confirmed.
Bridget Phillipson defended the policy as a response to a system facing "wholesale collapse," while the Ministry of Justice said 5,000 inmates are now set for early release, down from 6,000 after new exemptions.
Ministers say full details will be set out before parliament next week, with further changes to be presented next month as the government tries to relieve overcrowding while preserving public confidence.