Proposals to allow killers and rapists out of jail earlier have today been described as a 'slap in the face' for victims.
An independent sentencing review has called for criminals convicted of serious violence or sex offences to win their freedom after serving half their jail term, rather than at the current three quarters point – a one third reduction.
The Government indicated it would accept the measure 'in principle' – along with a raft of other measures expected to see tens of thousands fewer criminals sent to jail each year.
The wide-ranging review by former Tory justice secretary David Gauke also recommended rolling out a scheme of voluntary 'chemical castration' for sex offenders.
The proposals - which the Tories described as a 'gift to criminals' and a 'slap in the face for victims' - would free up 9,800 prison spaces by 2028 as ministers grapple with an overcrowding crisis.
