Prime Minister Andy Burnham has initiated an urgent review to pinpoint any individuals convicted of grooming offenses who might qualify for early release under the government's new scheme. The announcement follows concerns raised by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, who highlighted that child sex offenders could be freed prematurely.

Badenoch pointed out that indecent assault, an offense often linked to historical grooming cases, was not explicitly excluded from the early release program. This oversight means that some prisoners convicted of indecent assault as part of grooming gang activities, such as five men in a past Bradford case, could be eligible for release.

According to Burnham's spokesperson, the Ministry of Justice has been tasked with conducting a thorough review of cases to ensure that all grooming-related offenses are identified. The spokesperson emphasized the urgency and personal importance of this matter to the Prime Minister, stating that every possible measure is being taken to ensure offenders are dealt with appropriately.

The review, at this stage, will focus solely on identifying offenders who may be eligible for early release. It remains unclear whether this process will ultimately prevent any such releases for those convicted of grooming crimes. The government has not yet confirmed if further action will be taken based on the review's findings.

Kemi Badenoch characterized the Prime Minister's intervention as a response to her previous correspondence and another "U-turn" by Burnham. The government's early release initiative is intended to alleviate pressure on overcrowded prisons, with plans to free approximately 5,000 inmates in England and Wales. Burnham himself had previously launched a review of the scheme.

Earlier this week, Burnham announced that individuals convicted of rape, serious child sex offenses, and other grooming offenses would be barred from early release starting in October. However, Badenoch argued in a letter that many more offenders, including those convicted of sexually assaulting children, could still be released early because their specific offenses were not excluded.

Badenoch noted that many child sex abuse cases predating 2004 were prosecuted as indecent assault, citing examples from Rotherham and Rochdale. She described this situation as a "betrayal of victims" and urged Burnham to publish a complete list of offenses eligible for early release. The Prime Minister stated that extending exclusions further was not feasible without risking the collapse of the prison system and increasing public risk.

As of August 3rd, the prison population in England and Wales stood at 86,495, operating at 97% of usable capacity. While some prisoners not covered by the new exclusions could be freed after serving one-third of their sentence, rather than the standard 40% or 50%, the government is grappling with the complex challenge of balancing prison capacity with public safety concerns regarding early releases.