'Killers and rapists will be freed early'

Victims say their needs ignored in shake-up

- Michael Knowles Home Affairs Editor

LABOUR was accused of barely mentioning crime victims as ministers said they will press on with sentencing plans to cut jail time with more tags.

Killers and rapists will be let out of prison early, while 43,000 criminals will avoid jail altogether.

The vast majority of convicts will be tagged and electronically monitored as ministers try to avoid a repeat of the prison overcrowding crisis.

The campaign group Justice for Victims told ‘the’ Daily Express: "Today’s reforms speak loudly about offenders, with tagging, monitoring, rehabilitation and probation invest: ment. But they whisper about victims. That imbalance is exactly why trust in our justice system is so fragile."

Most criminals will be let out after just a third of their sentence, under Labour’s plan. They will spend another third under house arrest and only then be put on licence and let into the community.