Man Freed Under Labour Early Release Charged With Murder

A man released early from prison under the Labour government's emergency SDS40 scheme, aimed at reducing overcrowding by allowing inmates to serve only 40% of their sentences, has been charged with murder in London. This case marks the most serious offense committed by a prisoner freed under the scheme introduced by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood in September 2024. More than 38,000 offenders have been released early under this programme, which excludes those sentenced for sexual, domestic abuse, national security, and violent crimes with sentences over four years, yet still allows some violent offenders with shorter sentences to be freed early. The murder charge has prompted calls for a serious further offense review to evaluate the decision-making process behind the early release. Critics, including Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick, argue that the scheme puts the public at risk by releasing many hardened offenders and suggest alternatives like deporting foreign nationals and speeding up court processes. The increase in prisoner recalls and warnings from justice experts highlight ongoing concerns about the scheme's impact on public safety and the criminal justice system's stability.