Police chiefs criticise Labour's planned early release scheme and warn it is 'another big ask' for local forces

By RYAN HOOPER, CRIME CORRESPONDENT Published: 14:37, 20 July 2026 | Updated: 14:50, 20 July 2026 Police chiefs have hit out at Labour's plans to release thousands of prisoners early in a bid to ease overcrowding in jails. Forces across England and Wales are bracing themselves for the Sentencing Act coming into force in September, which will see some prisoners freed after serving just one-third of their jail terms for 'good behaviour'. Others will be let out halfway through their sentences, down from two-thirds under current rules. But senior officers said the early release scheme would 'present a challenge to the whole of policing', with local forces having to deal with the prospect of reoffending, and taking steps to reassure victims. Chief Constable Trevor Rodenhurst, the National Police Chiefs Council lead for Regional Organised Crime Units said: 'This is significant demand potentially across England and Wales for policing, and it's policing who's at the thin end of the wedge on that. 'So we will do our very best to work as a system to keep our community safe. 'But this is another ask on policing because another part of the system isn't geared to take the demand it needs to.' He added: 'It's a challenge, and that needs to be recognised.' Police bosses say they are concerned about the early release scheme and the impact it will have on local forces when thousands of prisoners are let back out into the community prematurely Deputy Chief Constable Wendy Gunney, NPCC lead for serious and organised crime, said any early release scheme had a 'quite significant' impact on local forces. She said: 'I don't know what the impact is going to be, because you know it's difficult. 'But we are leaning in to make sure that we can risk-assess those individuals as best that we possibly can.' The comments came as Lord Timpson quit the Government after two years as prisons minister, in a fresh blow to new Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The Ministry of Justice has already sent out thousands of letters to victims warning the offender who targeted them could qualify for early release since the Sentencing Act was passed earlier this year. Criminals are due to be freed in stages according to the length of their sentence, between September and June next year. Members of Mr Burnham's team are said to be examining how to ensure child sex offenders are excluded from the scheme. It comes after repeated concerns from police and politicians. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: 'No rapist, paedophile or child groomer should ever be let out early from prison. 'But Labour's Sentencing Act means many offenders – including the perpetrators of the very worst violent and sexual crimes – are being released much earlier than their court sentences. 'Men like these should be locked up and the key thrown away. 'Instead, under Labour, they're getting out of prison early. It's disgusting, abhorrent and will be opposed by anyone with any shred of decency.' And Chief Inspector of Constabulary Michelle Skeer issued a dire warning that the new law could even 'create opportunities for further reoffending' by paedophiles who will no longer be locked up. She warned police are already overwhelmed by the number of online child sex abuse reports they are receiving, with many forces running out of officers and staff to investigate. And she said Labour's plans to jail fewer offenders by ditching shorter prison sentences and releasing inmates earlier could 'increase the risk to the public' from sex offenders.