# Exclude rape and grooming offences from earlier release

> “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.”
>
> — Andy Burnham, Prime Minister, Labour Party; No 10 and Ministry of Justice press release, 4 August 2026

- **Status:** Delivered
- **Status ladder:** Promised → In plan → Legislated → Funded → Delivering → Delivered
- **Policy area:** [Police, courts, prisons](https://ledgergov.uk/promises/area/police-courts-and-prisons)
- **Speaker:** [Andy Burnham](https://ledgergov.uk/actor/andy-burnham), Prime Minister
- **Party:** [Labour Party](https://ledgergov.uk/actor/labour)
- **Made on:** 4 August 2026
- **Where:** No 10 and Ministry of Justice press release
- **Deadline:** 1 October 2026
- **Cost a year:** No costing published
- **Who it affects:** Offenders in England and Wales serving standard determinate sentences for rape, serious child sex offences or grooming offences
- **When:** When the earlier release points start, 1 October 2026 according to the release
- **Paid for by:** Not stated when it was announced
- **Quote source:** https://www.gov.uk/government/news/rape-serious-child-sex-and-grooming-offences-barred-from-sentencing-changes (checked word for word at its source on 20 October 2026; Open Government Licence v3.0)
- **Last updated:** 20 October 2026
- **Card:** https://ledgergov.uk/promise/uk-sentencing-exclusions-2026

## Where it stands

The Sentencing Act 2026 (Commencement No. 6 and Revocation) Regulations 2026, made on 1 September, brought the earlier release points into force on 1 October 2026, but not for sentences for the offences in their Schedule. The Schedule lists rape, child sex offences and meeting a child following sexual grooming. On 30 August the Prime Minister widened the exclusions to manslaughter, death by dangerous driving and indecent assault, and the Schedule lists those too. The Ministry of Justice publishes the full list of excluded offences.

## Timeline

- 4 August 2026, Promised: The Prime Minister says offenders sentenced for rape, serious child sex offences and other grooming offences will be excluded from the changes to prison release
- 1 September 2026, Legislated: The commencement regulations are made; their Schedule excludes these offences from the earlier release points ([evidence](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/953/made))
- 1 October 2026, Delivered: The earlier release points come into force, except for sentences for the offences in the Schedule ([evidence](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/953/made))

## About the cost

No cost has been published.

## Sources

- [No 10 and Ministry of Justice press release, 4 Aug 2026: Rape, serious child sex and grooming offences barred from sentencing changes](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/rape-serious-child-sex-and-grooming-offences-barred-from-sentencing-changes)
- [No 10 press release, 30 Aug 2026: Prime Minister blocks hundreds more criminals from sentencing changes](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-blocks-hundreds-more-criminals-from-sentencing-changes)
- [The Sentencing Act 2026 (Commencement No. 6 and Revocation) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/953), Schedule: excluded offences](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/953/schedule/made)
- [Ministry of Justice: Sentencing Act 2026 offence exclusions](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sentencing-act-offence-exclusions)

## Checks

- Checked automatically by AI Journalist, not yet verified by an editor.
- Checked by AI Journalist (automated) on 20 October 2026.

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