Carol Higgins, who was raped by her father throughout her childhood, has spoken of her relief after Prime Minister Andy Burnham scrapped the early release of sexual offenders. Higgins spent 35 years securing a conviction against her dad, Elliott Appleyard, who raped her repeatedly from ages 13 to 16 in their Wakefield home in the 1980s. She had been told her abuser was being considered for early release after serving just a quarter of his 20-year sentence.
Victim's Relief
Higgins, now a mum-of-two, told Metro: 'Reading that letter just overwhelmed me, I couldn't stop shaking. It has made me feel how he made me feel for years – completely worthless.' But after the campaigning of abuse survivors, Burnham announced that those convicted of rape, serious child sex offences, and grooming will be excluded from upcoming cuts to prison sentences. Higgins cried tears of 'joy and relief' upon learning her dad will likely remain in prison. She said: 'All of the anxiety and anger I had been feeling came out at once. I can get some peace now. But it is thanks to the victims who have been campaigning and begging to be listened to.'
Campaign Against Early Release
Last week, abuse survivors handed a petition to Number 10 Downing Street, urging Burnham to remove sex offenders from the early release scheme. The scheme, designed to ease jail overcrowding, was due to start in early September but has been delayed until October. Jade Belgrove launched the campaign after receiving a letter in June saying the man who raped and groomed her when she was 14 could be released. She said: 'When survivors lose confidence in the system, reporting can decline, cooperation with investigations can weaken and trust in institutions can be eroded. Victims and survivors should not be asked to accept increased risk or diminished confidence in the justice system because there are insufficient prison places.'
Government Response
The government stated that, after listening to victims' concerns, rapists and child sexual offenders will not be eligible for the sentencing changes. These exclusions add to those already in place for 18,000 offenders, including the most dangerous or those serving life sentences. Burnham said he 'wanted to go even further' but that was not possible without the prison system collapsing and putting the public 'at much greater risk'. Announcing the changes, he said: 'Keeping the public safe is my top priority. That's why I asked for an urgent review of the prisoner release scheme. I fully understand the anger, anxiety and distress that's been caused. I've heard that loud and clear. That's why we're making significant changes: offenders who have been sentenced for rape, serious child sex offences and other grooming offences will be excluded from the changes. I want to be honest – I wanted to go even further as I know there will still be concerns about other offenders having their sentence shortened. But it's not possible without the prison system reaching capacity and collapsing, which would put public safety at much greater risk.'
Details of the Scheme
Under changes in the Sentencing Act, some 6,000 offenders were set to be released in September after serving a third of their sentence rather than half. Prisoners serving longer sentences of four years or more would be eligible for release at the halfway point, rather than at two-thirds as previously. The changes were to be phased in, starting with prisoners of less than 575 days.
Reactions from Officials
The Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales, Claire Waxman, said early release plans have 'been a source of shock, distress and uncertainty for victims' and that many have been let down by 'poor communication'. On the new exclusions, she said: 'While this will be well received by some victims, most will not fall within those categories, and exclusions alone cannot guarantee victim or public safety. Effective risk management, meaningful licence conditions, proper supervision and timely, trauma-informed communication and support remain critical.' She added that delaying implementation to October was a 'necessary step' and that the extra time must be used to 'deliver the protections needed to keep victims and the public safe'. Domestic Abuse Commissioner Dame Nicole Jacobs said not excluding domestic abusers is 'wrong and puts victims lives at risk'. She said: 'It is critical that no abuser is released in October unless I am confident that victims' safety is not being compromised.'
