There are three forms of manslaughter—defence-based murder, gross negligence resulting in death, and unlawful act manslaughter—and a proposed carve-out could exclude certain offenders from early release by targeting the unlawful act category.

A former judge cautions that exempting only specific individuals would be unlawful if others convicted of the same offence are freed, though the rule change could be workable in practice.

Burnham declined to confirm any exemption for a particular type of manslaughter, saying discussions are speculative until the plan is finalized.

Justice Secretary Alex Norris is drafting plans to maximise public safety and reduce early release, with a report due to Parliament when it returns in about two weeks.

Leaders are preparing a report on the early release scheme to present findings to Parliament within two weeks, as part of efforts to prioritise public safety.

The review ordered by Andy Burnham is being compiled for Parliament, focusing on limiting early release and safeguarding public safety.

There is strong criticism and concern about the early release scheme, with calls to keep dangerous offenders and certain violent offenders incarcerated.

Officials have already exempted rapists and serious child sex offenders from early release, reducing eligible inmates to about 5,000.

The exemption of rapists and serious child sex offenders has cut the number eligible for early release from roughly 6,000 to about 5,000.

Prime Minister presses to block any early release for Pc Andrew Harper’s killers Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, with Burnham discussing the issue during a visit to Wolverhampton.

Bowers and Cole, involved in the 2019 incident that led to Pc Harper’s death, face condemnation over potential early release next year.

The government has previously expanded protections for rapists, pedophiles, and certain serious offenders under the Sentencing Act, but Harper’s killers were not covered.