Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill
The Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill ensures that terrorist offenders are not released before the end of their custodial term without agreement of the Parole Board.
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The terrorist incidents at Fishmongers Hall on 30 November 2019 and in Streatham on 2 February 2020 highlight an unpredictable risk to public safety from known terrorist offenders being released early from custody, by automatic process of law, without a risk assessment or the ability to keep them detained if they cannot be safely managed in the community.
Terrorist offenders serving standard determinate sentences must be released automatically after serving half their sentence. There may also be prisoners serving extended sentences imposed before 2015 who would be subject to automatic release at either the two-thirds point or the half way point, and terrorist offenders serving sentences for offenders of particular concern (SOPCs) who may be released from the halfway point at the discretion of the Parole Board.
This legislation means that the earliest point at which terrorist offenders will now be considered for release will be once they have served two-thirds of their sentence. Prisoners will then be assessed by the Parole Board, and only released before the end of their custodial term if the Board deems it is safe to do so.