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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Minister to outline longer jail term plans for serious offenders | Minister to outline longer jail term plans for serious offenders |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Changes aimed at increasing the number of serious offenders who serve two-thirds of their sentences will be unveiled by the justice secretary. | |
| Prisoners convicted of serious violent and sexual offences will no longer be released at the half-way point of their sentence, the minister will announce. | Prisoners convicted of serious violent and sexual offences will no longer be released at the half-way point of their sentence, the minister will announce. |
| The plan for England and Wales forms part of a review ordered by the PM. | The plan for England and Wales forms part of a review ordered by the PM. |
| The Conservative conference will focus on law and order on Tuesday, with a speech from Home Secretary Priti Patel. | The Conservative conference will focus on law and order on Tuesday, with a speech from Home Secretary Priti Patel. |
| Ms Patel will say that the Conservative Party will reclaim its place as the party of law and order. | Ms Patel will say that the Conservative Party will reclaim its place as the party of law and order. |
| She will say: "To the police service: we back you. And to the criminals, I simply say this: we are coming after you." | She will say: "To the police service: we back you. And to the criminals, I simply say this: we are coming after you." |
| Under the government's proposed changes, offenders in England and Wales will be released at the two-thirds point in their sentence. | Under the government's proposed changes, offenders in England and Wales will be released at the two-thirds point in their sentence. |
| As is currently the case, they will be released under strict licence conditions and if offenders break these conditions, they would be returned to prison. | As is currently the case, they will be released under strict licence conditions and if offenders break these conditions, they would be returned to prison. |
| Justice Secretary Robert Buckland will say: "We owe it to victims to make this change. | |
| "Punishment and rehabilitation are not opposites. We have to do both. Conservatives believe in offering a second chance to those who are ready to change." | "Punishment and rehabilitation are not opposites. We have to do both. Conservatives believe in offering a second chance to those who are ready to change." |
| Peter Clarke, the chief inspector of prisons, recently told the government that the safety of the public is being put at risk by the release of some prisoners. | Peter Clarke, the chief inspector of prisons, recently told the government that the safety of the public is being put at risk by the release of some prisoners. |
| In his 2018-19 annual report, Mr Clarke said thousands of prisoners who were potentially a "high risk of harm" to the public were being released "without proper assessment". | In his 2018-19 annual report, Mr Clarke said thousands of prisoners who were potentially a "high risk of harm" to the public were being released "without proper assessment". |
| Reality Check: what the sentencing reforms mean in practice | |
| In 2018, 78,876 offenders were sent immediately to prison after their conviction. | |
| The vast majority - 90.6% - of those sentenced are eligible for release after serving half of their term, most for short sentences. | |
| Serious offenders can already be made to serve at least two-thirds of their sentence and then face the Parole Board - a body that assesses the prisoner's suitability to be released to the public. | |
| Last year, 389 offenders received these "extended sentences". | |
| However, the prime minister wants to increase the number serving two-thirds of their sentence, by proposing that all prisoners serving four years or more for a serious violent or sexual offence are no longer eligible for automatic release at the halfway point. | |
| For example, last year 606 offenders were put in jail for four or more years for rape - an offence that carries a maximum life imprisonment - and will currently be released half way through their sentence. | |
| Under the new plans, they would have to serve at least two-thirds of their sentence. | |
| The government expects this to increase the prison population by 3,000. |