KEIR Starmer has defended the early release of prisoners after the father of a murdered woman claimed a man who assisted in the killing of his daughter being let out ahead of time makes a “mockery” of the justice system. Elle Edwards was an innocent bystander outside the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey when she was shot dead by Connor Chapman on Christmas Eve 2022.

Chapman, who attempted to target gang rivals as part of an ongoing feud between the Woodchurch and Beechwood estates in Wirral, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 48 years. Thomas Waring – an associate of Chapman’s who helped hide the Skorpion machine gun and burnt out a stolen car used in the shooting – was sent down for nine years following the same trial last year.

Elle’s father Tim said he received a letter from a victim liaison officer at the Ministry of Justice which said Waring could walk free from prison after serving a third of his sentence under the government’s early release scheme. As a result he could be back on the streets in 18 months.

Mr Edwards said last week the potential release “makes a mockery of the sentencing.” Speaking as part of a series of regional interviews, the Prime Minister said he “did not want to” release offenders early, claiming the previous government had left the custodial system in such a state there was no other option.

The Ministry of Justice said anyone eligible for home detention curfew would have to pass a rigorous risk assessment before being considered for release. Mr Edwards said he had written to Sir Keir for answers.

Speaking on BBC Radio Merseyside, the Prime Minister said prisons were so full, those responsible for the scenes of violence after the killing of three young girls in Southport this summer may not have been locked up if some people were not released ahead of time. He said: “I don’t want to release any of these people but we’ve been forced to do so because our prisons are absolutely full because the last government sent people to prison and didn’t build enough prison places.

“We got to the point, you’ll remember the terrible disorder obviously impacted hugely in your communities over the summer after the dreadful events in Southport, we had dreadful disorders, we really reached a point where we couldn’t arrest people because the prisons were too full because the last government broke the system. I don’t want to release these prisoners, I’m absolutely clear about that, but equally we cannot have a situation which we were faced with where the police were saying to me ‘if we don’t get some of the people out of our prisons, we are not going to be able to arrest people who need to be arrested’.

“That would be a complete breakdown of law and order and I don’t think anybody would disagree with that. That’s a very bad inheritance we’ve had to pick up and deal with, I’m very frustrated we had to pick up and deal with but we’ve had to pick it up, it’s another mess we have to clear up.”

Earlier this month, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “This was a horrific crime and our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Elle Edwards. Home Detention Curfew has been used for over 20 years and only after a full risk assessment in 2026 will a decision be made on whether Thomas Waring is suitable for it.

“HDC is entirely discretionary, and offenders presenting a high risk of harm are presumed unsuitable. Anyone placed under it is subject to an overnight curfew, strict licence conditions and tagging.