Sentencing reform back on the table

THE early freeing from jail of the suspect at the centre of the Reading terror stabbing is likely to raise concerns over the continued use of automatic release on licence at the halfway point in sentences.

Khairi Saadallah, 25, had been jailed in October last year for minor, nonterrorist offences. It is understood he would have served half his sentence before being released this month.

The Government has already moved to end early release for more serious crimes, including terrorism, but the vast majority of sentences continue to operate under rules introduced by Labour in 2004 for automatic release halfway through.

The incident in Reading could see the Government resurrect proposals in the Conservatives’ 2010 manifesto for “honest” sentencing.

This would mean criminals could receive minimum and maximum terms.

The timing of release would be dependent on their good behaviour, and removing “automatic” release on li- cence, which was introduced as a way of reintegrating offenders into the community because they knew they would be returned to prison if they breached it.

It would bring lesser offences in line with laws introduced this year to end automatic early release for terrorist offenders, and that require them to serve two thirds of their sentence before a parole board decides if they are safe to release into the community.

Similar changes have been introduced for serious violent and sex offenders jailed for seven or more years. These are expected to be extended to offenders sentenced to four or more years in a White Paper later this year, which could provide a vehicle for a wider overhaul.

Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, who is due to visit the site of the attack today, is also planning to tackle bogus asylum seekers and speed up the deportation of foreign national offenders.

Sources said the Reading attack would “embolden” the Government’s plans to reform the asylum system.