Andy Burnham humiliated as police issue major update on Labour's soft justice programme

Andy Burnham humiliated as police issue major update on Labour's soft justice programme Eight men released last Thursday already arrested, Greater Manchester Police tells the Express Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source Comments By Michael Knowles , Home Affairs and Defence Editor 15:31, Fri, Oct 9, 2026 Updated: 16:30, Fri, Oct 9, 2026 Andy Burnham is facing a justice crisis (Image: Getty) Criminals released under Labour’s soft justice programme have already gone on to commit robbery, domestic violence and drug offences, the Daily Express can reveal. Police officers in London revealed a serial thief and convicted sex offender went on a shoplifting rampage within hours of getting out of prison. And Greater Manchester Police told the Daily Express it has already arrested eight men who were released last Thursday. Three were arrested for breaching licence conditions, while others were detained for robbery, drug offences and domestic violence. Many criminals are being let out after completing just a third of their jail terms in a bid to prevent prison overcrowding. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Andy Burnham blasted over latest move - ‘weak, insulting gesture’ Angela Rayner's 'authoritarian plot' to send snoops to Brits’ homes exposed - 'outrageous' Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods said: “In Greater Manchester, we’ve been working closely with partners to ensure that the most robust plans are in place to ensure offenders are adhering to their conditions. Any breaches will be – and are being – enforced by GMP." Frontline officers fear that criminals being let out after serving as little as 33% of their sentences behind bars will trigger a crime wave that will get worse as the scheme gathers pace in the coming months. Reform’s Zia Yusuf said on Friday: “If it’s two to three in London every week, it’s almost certain that one of Labour’s newly released offenders is arrested somewhere in Britain every single day. Just how many British people have been raped or killed as a result? Burnham chose to keep this policy. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT “He chose not to deport the 10,000-plus foreign criminals in British jails. He chose to dedicate police resources to protests against illegal migration instead. He chose violent criminals over the safety of the British people. I will deport all foreign nationals in our jails and keep violent criminals where they belong: in jail.” Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Prisoners walk out of Brixton Prison after early release Get the latest politics news - straight from our team in Westminster and more I would like to receive emails from the Daily Express featuring our latest products, services, offers, and promotions from across the Reach Plc family . Subscribe Invalid email You agree you are 18 or over. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. You can unsubscribe at any time. More Info . Shadow prisons minister Kieran Mullan told the Daily Express: "We were told these criminals were going to be tagged. We are going to see a crime wave even though the Government had months and months to prepare for this. Victims will be paying the price. "This isn't all because people don't have support. There are some people that have spent so long living a life of crime that the task of turning that around is almost enormous. "It isn't a matter of just going on a course. All the warm words about rehabilitation are small comfort to victims." Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “The Government did not even bother to tag all offenders on release, as they said they would, leaving criminals free to commit crime. Labour’s reckless and botched release scheme is unleashing a crime wave already. “They did not need to do this. There are prison places available that could be used now with a little work.” Some 700 criminals were let out of prison early last Thursday. Another 650 are due to be released next week. In total, 4,500 convicts will be let out early under Ministry of Justice plans. By June, criminals sentenced to 12 years or more will have benefited from the scheme. Up to 50,000 offenders a year are likely to be freed early under Labour’s sentencing changes, with thousands eligible every month. Get the latest politics news straight to your phone Join us on WhatsApp Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley warned that “prolific and volatile” criminals are being let out into communities at an astonishing rate. The Scotland Yard chief admitted many offenders are being bailed back into the community on the same conditions with “zero sanction”. He also said the force is arresting “two or three early release offenders a week”. Officers in London are having to deal with more than 100 breaches of electronic tagging orders a day. He said: “We're seeing 95% plus of the tagging breaches being bailed back into the community on the same condition, so there is zero sanction.” Asked if it is effectively a revolving door, Sir Mark said: “It is. We press for the most dangerous and prolific individuals to be remanded in prison. We're seeing fewer people remanded in prison. “That's leaving more prolific and volatile people in communities. The number of people failing to appear at court is now going up. “We were getting 800 arrest warrants a month. We're now getting the best part of 1,600 because more volatile people are being put back out into communities. “I’m really concerned, and I've heard Claire Waxman, the national victims’ commissioner, talk about issues around those obsessive offenders who are repeat domestic violence offenders, repeat stalkers. Some of them are very difficult, very dangerous, and this is a very difficult issue that they are now going to be released early.” In one astonishing case, a career criminal and convicted pervert who thanked Labour as he walked out of prison went on a weekend-long shoplifting rampage within hours of being released from HMP Wandsworth. Michael Bogle, 38, had been assessed as a “high-risk offender” by the Probation Service. But he was captured on CCTV stealing from two supermarkets in north-west London within 24 hours of being freed last Thursday from HMP Wandsworth. Shop staff said he had “continued shoplifting throughout the weekend”. Bogle is back in prison already after pleading guilty to four counts of shoplifting. Det Ch Supt Luke Williams, borough commander for Barnet, Brent and Harrow, told MPs and police chiefs in an unprecedented letter: “The concerning nature of the early release scheme in this case was a known prolific offender being put back into the community, only to immediately reoffend. “Not only does this place communities at risk, it puts demand straight back into policing, who must arrest, investigate and put the individual into custody. “This is not just a localised issue with similar cases occurring across London, where people are released, only for their cycle of offending to immediately start again. “I, along with other officers from across the Met, am concerned this will only get worse as more people are released early.” Labour Party Andy Burnham Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source Comments