The scheme to free up much needed prison space by releasing some offenders to serve the remainder of their sentences on the outside has provoked an outcry from victims.

Under the Government's new Sentencing Act, some 6,000 criminals are due to be freed under the early prison release scheme in a bid to combat jail overcrowding.

Around 1,000 rapists and child sex offenders will remain exempt from Labour’s early prison release scheme - but why couldn’t Andy Burnham go further? Alex Ross explores the crisis…