Burnham’s review of prison early release scheme is causing chaos, says union

The early release scheme starting in September will involve prisoners being monitored with electronic tags. Photograph: Andrew Aitchison/Corbis/Getty Images View image in fullscreen The early release scheme starting in September will involve prisoners being monitored with electronic tags. Photograph: Andrew Aitchison/Corbis/Getty Images Burnham’s review of prison early release scheme is causing chaos, says union Officials ‘do not know’ how to respond to potential changes to plans to start freeing up to 6,000 offenders UK politics live – latest updates Andy Burnham’s pledge to review early release plans has created “a sense of chaos” across the Prison Service, probation officers have said. As Whitehall insiders confirmed the prime minister was examining possible exemptions to the law under which offenders will be freed, the Napo probation union said prison officials “do not know” how to respond. Burnham said on Wednesday that he would examine the “the whole of the policy” with the new justice secretary, Alex Norris, amid preparations for the release of up to 6,000 prisoners across England and Wales from 2 September. Under the proposals, killers, rapists and sex offenders will be released early into the community and monitored by tags. The mother of police officer Andrew Harper said on Thursday it was “another letdown” for her son that two of his killers were being considered for early release. View image in fullscreen Jessie Cole (left) and Albert Bowers, two of the killers of police officer Andrew Harper, may be eligible for early release. Photograph: Thames Valley Police/PA Tania Bassett, Napo’s national officer, told the Guardian the union had asked prison managers whether all preparations for early release across England and Wales should continue but received no response. She said: “The prime minister’s statement saying he will review early release plans for September has created a sense of chaos in His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service. “Napo has asked HMPPS what the plan is and, as yet, they do not know. This is really worrying for our members who are currently working hard on pre-release work for those due to come out in September. It was already an incredibly short timeframe to meet the implementation date. “This review could potentially reduce the timeframes even further, putting more pressure on our already overworked members. We urge the prime minister for clarity as soon as possible.” According to the union, preparations for release require probation staff to carry out extensive work that usually takes at least six to eight weeks. This includes reviewing risk assessments, making referrals for accommodation, carrying out home visits, coordinating with victim liaison officers and domestic abuse support officers and developing multi-agency safeguarding plans. It can also take several weeks to ensure that tagging measures are in place before an offender is placed in accommodation. Unless probation staff received “imminent, concrete di