Up to 43,000 criminals a year are set to miss jail sentences under Labour's soft-justice masterplan.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood's plans will even see killers and rapists leave jail early, according to Ministry of Justic (MoJ) figures.

Under the plans accepted "in principle" by Mahmood, courts will no longer impose jail terms of less than a year, except in "exceptional circumstances".MoJ figures indicate that 79,812 criminals were handed an immediate custodial sentence last year; only 43,322 were sentenced for less than 12 months, excluding those sentenced for breach of a court order.

<img data-id="fixed-image" src="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/justice-secretary-shabana-mahmood.jpg?id=53603793&amp;width=980" alt="Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood" width="100%" height="auto">The plans have been approved 'in principle' by MahmoodPA

Based on 2024 sentencing figures, as many as 11,000 shoplifters, 2,700 burglars, 600 muggers and 160 car thieves could now be handed a community punishment as opposed to prison, under Labour's measures.Some 2,500 criminals convicted of carrying a knife or blade could dodge jail time, which could have major implications for tackling knife crime.

Criminals could receive only a 'slap on the wrist' as opposed to jail time{ai:summary}Labour's proposed justice reforms may allow up to 43,000 criminals annually to avoid jail sentences, including serious offenders like killers and rapists. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood's plan would limit custodial sentences to those over a year, except in exceptional cases.Under these changes, thousands of offenders, including shoplifters and those convicted of carrying knives, could receive community punishments instead of prison time, raising concerns about public safety and crime rates. #crime

Killers and rapists to be set free EARLY as more than 40,000 criminals dodge jail under Labour's 'soft-justice' masterplan

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