Andy Burnham has announced that he is pausing the prisoner release scheme after row over the release of killers of PC Andrew Harper
Mr Burnham said: “Keeping the public safe will always be my top priority.
“I am working closely with the new Justice Secretary and have instructed my team to put a pause on the changes that were due to start in September.
“No prisoners will be let out under this policy until we have conducted an urgent review and done everything we can to minimise risk to the public.
“Where changes are needed, we will not hesitate to make them.”
The plan, announced by former Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government, was due to begin in September and could have resulted in prisoners – including rapists and murderers – being let out to help ease overcrowding in prisons.
