Burnham ‘personally intervened’ over possible early prison release of grooming gang perpetrators

Government ‘urgently’ identifying men convicted in historical cases who could be freed in scheme loophole Andy Burnham’s government is “urgently” identifying any grooming gang perpetrators who may still be eligible for early prison release after concerns were raised about a potential loophole in the system. The prime minister has “personally intervened” after men convicted of assaulting children in Bradford were expected to be freed from prison early despite a promise earlier this week that they would remain behind bars. In a statement, No 10 said it would ensure that “everything possible is being done so that vile groomers are dealt with in the way their victims deserve”. About 5,000 people are expected to be released early under sentencing changes in England and Wales, down from 6,000 after ministers excluded grooming gang members, rapists and “serious” child sex offenders from the scheme designed to reduce overcrowding in jails. Critics have questioned the scope of the exemptions after reports that some men convicted in relation to historical grooming gang cases could be among those freed. Some of the offending took place before sexual abuse laws were chang