The Prime Minister's decision to halt the scheme has been described as "absolutely the right decision"

The Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia has welcomed the Government's decision to pause its early prisoner release scheme, which would have made thousands of offenders across England and Wales eligible for release sooner than planned.

PCC John Campion said he had consistently urged ministers to rethink the policy, arguing it risked undermining public confidence in the justice system while placing additional pressure on policing and increasing concerns for victims.

The Prime Minister's decision to halt the scheme has been described by Mr Campion as "absolutely the right decision", although he is now calling for a wider review of sentencing laws and prisoner release arrangements to ensure public protection remains the priority.

Mr Campion said: "I have repeatedly and consistently called for the Government to reconsider this scheme, so pausing it is absolutely the right decision.

"In West Mercia we are already seeing the impact on victims and policing. I have raised significant concerns about the injustice of offenders who have served only a fraction of their sentence being released back into local communities, and the consequences this has for victims.

"The Sentencing Act places substantial risk back into the community and adds further demand on policing to manage offenders. I urge the Prime Minister to urgently review the eligibility criteria and automatic release arrangements, including whether legislative changes are needed to strengthen public protection, keep violent offenders behind bars for longer, and ensure safeguards such as electronic monitoring are resilient enough to keep victims safe.

"That review must now form part of a clear, long-term plan for prisons – one that protects victims, supports policing and ensures public safety remains the overriding priority."