Labour urged to make urgent law change to prevent rapists and paedos being released early

Killers, rapists and burglars already in prison will benefit from Labour's disastrous sentencing reforms and get released early, the Daily Express can reveal. The Government's proposed new "progression model", which could allow offenders out after serving just 33% of their sentences, will apply retrospectively.

This means thousands already locked up for crimes such as rape, sexual assault, burglary, stalking, domestic abuse and even death by dangerous driving will serve less time, despite already being sentenced. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick told the Daily Express ministers should be alarmed by the prospect of "more rapes, abuse and violence on our streets". Mr Jenrick said: "This Bill rewards some of the most despicable people in our country.

"There is no two ways about this - slashing prison sentences for the most serious criminals will mean more rapes, abuse and violence on our streets.

"To add insult to injury, Labour are going to let existing criminals out of prison even earlier. Thousands of hardened criminals won't believe their luck if this Bill passes."

Under Labour's plans, killers and rapists will be let out of prison early, while 43,000 criminals will avoid jail altogether.

Many prisoners will be out after spending just a third of their jail term in prison.

And those sentenced to four years or more will only be let out after serving 50% of their sentence behind bars.

But confirmation that the hugely controversial changes will apply retrospectively will ignite a fresh crisis in the criminal justice system.

Analysis seen by the Daily Express reveals how the "commencement date" of the key piece of the legislation - Section 20 - that allows offenders to be released early is not specified.

This would instead be set by Justice Secretary David Lammy.

And legal experts in the House of Commons have told some Tory MPs that "the expectation is that the new release measures would apply to people already sentenced".

This is because the changes are being applied to all Standard Determinate Sentences.

The move will prompt fresh fears of chaos on the streets as Labour scrambles to prevent an overcrowding crisis behind bars.

The Conservatives separately warned more than 6,500 dangerous offenders - including those jailed for rape, stalking, child grooming and child sex offences - could have their jail time cut.

Labour's changes will also benefit over 62% of jailed rapists, as 624 of the 994 offenders jailed each year for rape will be eligible for reduced time in prison.

In total, 85% of the most serious jailed offenders are included in the reductions - more than 6,500 of the most jailed serious offenders, including rapists, paedophiles, stalkers, violent attackers, and even attempted murderers, will qualify for early release.

On Tuesday, the Tories will demand that Labour exclude rapists, perverts convicted of assault by penetration, grievous bodily harm, stalking, and all sexual offences against children, from early release.

Kieran Mullan, shadow justice minister, said: "Labour's early release plan is a betrayal of victims and a gift to rapists and paedophiles.

"Keir Starmer is putting criminals before communities and letting predators out early.

"Under Labour's plans, thousands of the most serious and sickening offences imaginable would no longer be treated as such. What an insult to thousands of victims across the country. Anyone who vote for these plans will have to explain exactly why these crimes do not count among the most serious offences.

"The Conservatives will fight this moral rot every step of the way."

The Sunday Express revealed 2,254 offenders were locked up for child sex offences last year.

This included 167 perverts jailed for raping a female under 16.

Some 548 paedophiles jailed for taking, permitting, making, distributing or publishing indecent images of children will also spend less time behind bars.

And 229 people convicted of sexual grooming could be allowed home sooner, figures show, if a similar number is jailed under the proposed new "progression model".

Another 200 offenders aged over 18 jailed for sexual activity involving a child under 16 will spend less time in prison.

A staggering 104 people jailed for sexual activity with a child under 13, and 248 caged for sexually assaulting a girl under 13 could also benefit from the softest sentencing reforms in a generation.

A shocking 54 people locked up for raping a child under the age of 13 could also be let out earlier.

This means a staggering 82% of offenders convicted of child sex offences will receive a lighter sentence, when compared against last year's figures.

Labour has insisted the reforms are necessary to prevent the prison service from collapsing.

Justice chiefs feared a total collapse in law and order, with police unable to arrest any suspects because convicts were being moved into police cells.