Andy Burnham torn apart over 'wasted opportunity' with early release reforms: 'Weakness!'

Andy Burnham has been accused of "wasting an opportunity" with his reforms to the early release scheme after choosing not to exclude the killers of PC Andrew Harper.

Speaking to GB News, former prison governor Vanessa Frake declared she "doesn't believe for a second" that it was "impossible" to exclude those convicted of violent crimes from early release.

Ms Frake told GB News: "I think Andy Burnham had the opportunity to really get a grip of this Sentencing Act.

"He could have included those done for manslaughter, he could have included domestic violence and everything that that entails, and he chose not to. I don't believe for a second that that was impossible."

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She argued that he could be using empty military bases as temporary prisons, much like the "Nightingale hospitals" during the Covid pandemic.

Ms Frake explained: "We had Nightingale hospitals up in days - there are bases, army bases, RAF bases, just waiting empty.

"If he wanted to, he could sort this, but yet again, he's missed an opportunity. To me, it shows weakness."

Taking aim at Justice Secretary Alex Norris's defence of the reforms, Ms Frake argued that he has "no experience" in the justice system.

She told GB News: "As for Alex Norris, this guy has absolutely no experience whatsoever in the justice system, yet he is now responsible.

"For me, it's time that it was criminals who walked in fear, not victims and survivors of violent crime. Andy Burnham had the opportunity and he completely wasted it."

Ms Frake stressed that some of those who are released early may commit a crime again, adding further pressure to the prison crisis.

She said: "We might release 4,000 prisoners of various crimes, but how many of those are going to commit crime again and end up back in prison? So not only will we chock our prison up with those that we've already let out, we're going to chock them up again with those coming up to sentencing by the courts.

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"So I absolutely put money on in six months time, we'll be having this discussion again and it will be 'let's release even more'."

Asked by host Dawn Neesom on whether the Government should be deporting foreign criminals to free up space, Ms Frake explained that Britain already has agreements with several countries where criminals can be returned.

She explained: "We have over 100 treaties with foreign countries to retake their convicted prisoners back. The number one is Albania, because we have the most Albanian prisoners. We have treaties with Zambia, with Nigeria - why aren't these people on a plane? That's what I'd like to know.

"Also, most people are under the perception that women don't commit violent crime. Well, we've got about 3,500 female prisoners at the moment. 58 per cent of those are in for violent crime. The rest it's usually drugs, which can be managed in the community.

"But that still gives you around 1,500 beds to play around with. Shut somewhere like Downview and open it up as a male jail."

In a statement posted to social media, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has assured that the reforms to early release "will make a difference".

He told Britons: "I do not pretend it is a perfect solution or that it goes as far as I would like. My commitment over the months and years ahead is to rebuild our justice system so that it commands the confidence of the public.

"This will not happen overnight and nor without difficulty, but we will deliver a justice system that the British people expect and deserve."

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