PM pledges work to keep child killers behind bars

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to do "every single thing I can" to stop a seven-year-old boy's killer being released early from prison due to overcrowding.

Archie York died in an explosion caused by an illegal drugs lab operating in the flat beneath his home in Benwell, Newcastle, in 2024.

His mum Katherine Errington has campaigned to prevent the man responsible, and any others responsible for the death of a child, from becoming eligible for early release.

Reece Galbraith was handed a 14-year sentence after admitting manslaughter but Archie's family were told that changes could mean he serves only half of that in jail.

Burnham said he was sorry for the "limbo and anguish" felt by Archie's family over plans to release some offenders to free up space in prisons.

During a visit to Newcastle, he was asked by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) if he would support Archie's mum's campaign.

"I know this part of Newcastle well and I know the feeling that there is here about what happened to Archie, and the support that Katherine and her family have," he said.

"Everything possible should be done to prevent the release of people who have been involved in killings like this and that is why I am asking the justice secretary to come to parliament a week on Tuesday to present his revised plan.

"I can't say to you today that everything is in place, but I am working hard to see what we can do to minimise the release of all offenders, but particularly those that have been involved in some of the more serious crimes - and particularly crimes that involve the loss of a young life."

Burnham, who visited homelessness charity Changing Lives in Elswick, was speaking just a few minutes' drive away from the scene of the Violet Close explosion.

After entering Downing Street, he had ordered a pause on the early release plans and later announced that rapists, child sex offenders and those guilty of grooming gang offences would be ineligible.

He has since promised further action and instructed Justice Secretary Alex Norris to fast-track plans to create more headroom within the prison system.

"I can get a message to Katherine to say that I hear you, I can only imagine how the last few years have been, but particularly recent weeks," he said.

"I know she will be seeing the debate in the media and I do say sorry to her for the limbo and anguish she must be feeling as this plays through.

"I hope she will understand why I am doing what I am doing, which is to pause this and turn over every possible stone to make sure that people who should be inside prison stay inside prison."

Errington said she welcomed the prime minister's comments, but challenged the government to come good on his words when Norris delivers the revised early release plans to parliament.

She said she was happy that Archie's story had reached Burnham and that he shared her views.

"I have hope, but I am not going to be jumping for joy until we know for definite," she told the LDRS.

"I am not getting my hopes up too much until we have that statement from the justice secretary a week on Tuesday."

The 28-year-old recently launched a petition - now backed by more than 4,000 signatures - urging the government to exclude those convicted of manslaughter or of serious child abuse or neglect offences from eligibility for early release.

It also calls for Dana Carr, the mum of murdered County Durham toddler Maya Chappell, to be blocked from early release.

Carr was jailed for nine years after being found guilty of child cruelty by neglect and allowing the death of a child, and she may also be eligible for early release under the sentencing reforms.

The government has come under heavy pressure after it emerged two of the killers of PC Andrew Harper are set to be released halfway through their 13-year manslaughter sentences next year.

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