The Latest Breaking News from David Gauke

Burnham warned running prison capacity near limit is ‘big risk’

U-turn on early release scheme will create ‘stresses and strains’ on prison system, says former justice secretary

The Guardian - UK · Sep 1

Prisons ‘one major event from disaster’ after U-turn on early release scheme

Critics say the move, which will keep PC Harper’s killers in jail, leaves number of prison spaces ‘too close to the bone’

The Guardian - UK · Aug 30

Burnham won’t fix our prisons crisis until he dares to be honest with the public about crime

Most crime figures have drastically fallen, but people don’t believe it. It’s no wonder when politicians whip up emotions and attempt to bend the law, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

The Guardian - UK · Aug 14

Tories will seek to prevent early release of rapists in sentencing reforms

The Sentencing Bill will include an ‘earned progression scheme’, which allows prisoners who demonstrate good behaviour to be freed earlier.

Evening Standard · Oct 20, 2025

New laws to reduce use of short prison sentences expected within weeks

Courts will be given greater powers to attach conditions to non-custodial sentences.

Evening Standard · Aug 24, 2025

Labour to abolish most short prison sentences in England and Wales

Exclusive: Legislation that will include Texas-style scheme to shorten jail time expected to be rolled out this year

The Guardian - UK · Aug 24, 2025

Conservatives not close to recognising ‘how badly placed they are’, says Gauke

Former minister says Tories are ignoring heartland voters and risk losing ground to Reform in next election

The Guardian - UK · Aug 12, 2025

Justice chaos under the Tories: Sunak risked prison 'meltdown' by blocking early release of inmates

Justice officials were ignored and accused of ‘crying wolf’ as the criminal justice system reached breaking point, damning review finds

Evening Standard · Aug 4, 2025

Be honest with victims about prison terms for offenders, former Justice Secretary David Gauke tells MPs

David Gauke was speaking to MPs about his sentencing review

Evening Standard · Jun 17, 2025

Police were ‘consulted’ over early prison release scheme, says Ministry of Justice

Mark Rowley, Met commissioner, had said plans for England and Wales were made ‘without any analysis of the impact on policing’

The Guardian - UK · May 28, 2025