Early Prisoner Release Plans Thrown Into Doubt as Burnham Orders Policy Review

Burnham pledged on 22 July 2026 to review the Sentencing Act 2026's early release of up to 6,000 prisoners, set for 2 September. Each case needs six to eight weeks of risk and safeguarding work. Napo says HMPPS — the prison service — could not confirm whether preparations should continue, calling it "a sense of chaos." The window is narrowing.