Burnham’s review of prison early release scheme is causing chaos, says union

Officials ‘do not know’ how to respond to potential changes to plans to start freeing up to 6,000 offenders

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Andy Burnham’s pledge to review early release plans has created “a sense of chaos” across the Prison Service, probation officers have said.

As Whitehall insiders confirmed the prime minister was examining possible exemptions to the law under which offenders will be freed, the Napo probation union said prison officials “do not know” how to respond.