Andy Burnham has confirmed his Labour Party government will press ahead with new powers "from early next year" in a bid to deport criminals. The Prime Minister spoke out on Sunday, ahead of returning to Whitehall this week following summer recess.
Mr Burnham, the MP for Makerfield who succeeded Sir Keir Starmer back in July, confirmed powers will be implemented early next year "to deport some foreign criminals immediately after sentencing". Labour Party leader Mr Burnham says he is intent on "blocking them from ever returning to the country," while keeping those in prison for the most serious crimes locked up for a substantial period before they are removed.
Ending IPP sentences
He also announced that he will end the injustice of Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences this Parliament, meaning people will no longer be trapped indefinitely under a sentence abolished more than a decade ago.
A government press release confirmed: "This decision recognises how deeply unjust it is that some offenders who have been locked up for nearly twenty years remain in prison, despite serving their sentence many times over, whereas many serious criminals convicted in recent years could have their jail time cut."
"While work on this will begin immediately, and on a cross-party basis, it will take time to get this right and balance fairness with public safety."
Hundreds more prisoners to stay behind bars
Mr Burnham confirmed today (August 30) he will keep hundreds of criminals behind bars who would otherwise have been released early is one he has wanted to make for weeks. Earlier this month, the Ministry of Justice warned that exempting any more prisoners risked "prisons reaching capacity and collapsing".
The prime minister himself previously said he had "pushed to the very limits of what is possible to do". Mr Burnham said the additional changes announced on Sunday would result in "hundreds" more prisoners staying behind bars.
The justice secretary is expected to give a more precise figure for how many people will be affected when he gives a statement in Parliament on Tuesday.
