Campaigners Issue Stark Warning to Andy Burnham Over Controversial Decision that Could Endanger Women and Children

Many victims of domestic abuse say they are living in fear after learning that thousands of convicted abusers could become eligible for early release from prison under the Government’s proposed sentencing reforms.

The changes have sparked a strong backlash from survivors and campaigners, who believe the decision could put women and children at greater risk if offenders are released before completing most of their prison sentences.

The criticism comes after Prime Minister Andy Burnham decided not to exclude most domestic abuse offenders from the early release scheme. Earlier this week, the Government confirmed that grooming gang rapists would not benefit from the reforms, saying they remain too dangerous to be released early.

However, thousands of other offenders convicted of domestic abuse-related crimes could still qualify, with some becoming eligible for release after serving only one-third of their sentence.

Campaigners say this could result in around 9,371 convicted domestic abusers being released before the end of this Parliament in 2029, leaving many victims feeling frightened and uncertain about their future safety.

Speaking to GB News, Paola Diana, Executive Chair of the Women’s Policy Centre, described the plans as deeply worrying and said they could have serious consequences for victims across the country.

She said the situation was “tragic” and explained that she fears many of those being released could go on to commit further offences. According to her, victims who have spent years trying to rebuild their lives may once again have to live in fear knowing their abusers could return to their communities much sooner than expected.

Diana warned that women and children would be the people most affected by the policy. She argued that many survivors have already experienced years of violence, intimidation and emotional trauma, and the possibility of seeing their abusers released early could leave them feeling unsafe in their own homes and neighbourhoods.

She also questioned whether the Government’s actions matched its promises to protect women and girls. In her view, while ministers often speak about tackling violence against women, she believes these reforms could have the opposite effect by increasing the risk faced by victims.

During the interview, Diana said she believes women and children will ultimately “pay the price” if dangerous offenders are released before serving the majority of their sentences.

She also raised concerns about prison overcrowding, pointing to figures showing there are around 10,700 foreign nationals currently serving sentences in UK prisons. She argued that the Government should focus on deporting foreign offenders who have no legal right to remain in the UK, saying this could free up prison spaces instead of releasing domestic abusers early.

Diana was highly critical of the Government’s priorities, claiming ministers should be concentrating on public safety rather than easing pressure on prisons through early release. She questioned why such reforms were being introduced while many victims still fear their abusers could target them again.

Her comments reflect wider concerns expressed by some victims’ groups, who say early release decisions should place the safety of survivors above all other considerations. Many argue that domestic abuse cases often involve long-term patterns of controlling, coercive and violent behaviour, making the risk of repeat offending a serious issue.

Despite the criticism, Prime Minister Andy Burnham defended the reforms in a statement shared on social media. He acknowledged that the changes were not a perfect solution but said they were part of a broader effort to repair and improve the justice system.

Burnham said he was committed to rebuilding public confidence in the criminal justice system over the coming years. He admitted that meaningful reform would take time and would not happen without challenges, but insisted the Government would continue working towards a justice system that meets the expectations of the British public.

The proposed reforms remain highly controversial, with supporters arguing they are necessary to deal with overcrowded prisons, while critics believe they could leave victims feeling less protected and place vulnerable people at greater risk if offenders are released too soon.