// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
Early release scheme could see dangerous criminals released, Conservatives warn
Dangerous criminals could still be freed under the prime minister's early release scheme, shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy has told the BBC.
"In order to prevent one group of dangerous criminals being released early, he's looking at releasing a different group of dangerous prisoners", Timothy said.
Timothy's comments followed Andy Burnham's announcement that the early prisoner release scheme would be further narrowed to exclude anyone convicted of manslaughter, following a campaign from the family of PC Andrew Harper to block the release of two men convicted of his manslaughter in 2019.
Burnham said extra prison space would be found in part by releasing some inmates serving indefinite sentences, known as IPPs.
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Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences were given to offenders between 2005 and 2012 who were deemed to pose a significant risk of causing serious harm to the public.
Once a minimum term has been served, the prisoner can be released only once the Parole Board is satisfied they no longer need to be confined for public safety, meaning many are being held indefinitely.
There were 2,271 people serving these sentences, according to Ministry of Justice (MoJ) data up to June of this year.
Of those, 856 have never been released because the Parole Board thought it was not safe to do so. Ending indefinite sentences will also require new legislation, meaning it could be years before space is freed up.