Starmer's plans to let thousands of prisoners out torn apart by women's rights experts

Plans to let thousands of criminals out of prison earlier "undermine" Labour's bid to halve violence against women and girls, leading experts warned last night.

Domestic abuse commissioner Dame Nicole Jacobs said plans to go after abusive men, thugs and stalkers were at odds with proposals that will allow many criminals out after serving just a third of their sentence behind bars.

And Victims Commissioner Claire Waxman warned "many abusers will avoid prison entirely".

The interventions will be a huge blow to Labour, as they announce the delayed Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy on Thursday.

Ms Waxman said: "The Sentencing Bill underlines this lack of cohesion.

"Victims need confidence that the system will protect them, yet under the proposals in the Bill, the reality is that many abusers will avoid prison entirely or benefit from early release - undermining the very safety this Strategy seeks to guarantee."

Dame Nicole said: "Most of the commitments in this strategy do not go far enough if we are to see the number of people subject to domestic abuse start to fall.

"There is still no long-term sustainable funding for specialist services to ensure victims can actually access support in their area, despite the fact many of these measures will likely drive up referrals; overburdened schools on the frontline of the insurgence of misogyny are not being equipped with the infrastructure they need to safeguard child victims of domestic abuse; and I struggle to see how relentlessly pursuing dangerous perpetrators squares with proposed changes in the Sentencing Bill that will see domestic abusers let out of prison again and again.

"The level of ambition in this government's strategy signifies a step change in approach, but there are gaps that must be addressed if ministers want to halve violence against women and girls in a decade."

The Government has vowed to put specialist rape and sexual offences investigators in every police force, introduce better support for survivors in the NHS and give a £19 million funding boost for councils to provide safe housing for domestic abuse survivors.

Labour on Wednesday night revealed all secondary schools in England will have to teach students about healthy relationships to tackle misogyny.

Teachers will be given specialist training to talk to pupils about issues such as consent and children who show harm towards parents, siblings or in relationships will be signed up to behaviour change programmes.

A new helpline will also be set up for teenagers to get help over concerns for their own behaviour in relationships.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: "Every parent should be able to trust that their daughter is safe at school, online and in her relationships.

"But too often toxic ideas are taking hold early and going unchallenged.

"This Government is stepping in sooner - backing teachers, calling out misogyny, and intervening when warning signs appear - to stop harm before it starts.

"This is about protecting girls and driving forward education and conversation with boys and young men, which is a responsibility we owe to the next generation, and one this Government will deliver."

Police and social services will also be given new guidance on teenage relationships to tackle abuse, and the legal framework for domestic abuse will be looked at to address experiences of teenagers.

It comes as Sir Keir has vowed to look at whether younger people should have recognition as domestic abuse victims following the murder of 15-year-old Holly Newton by her stalker ex-boyfriend in Hexham, Northumberland, in January 2023.

Under Labour's plans, killers and rapists will be let out of prison early, while 43,000 criminals will avoid jail altogether.

Many will be out after spending just a third of their jail term in prison.

And those sentenced to four years or more will only be let out after serving 50% of their sentence behind bars.

Violence Against Women and Girls minister Jess Phillips said: "For too long the scale of violence against women and girls has been treated as a fact of life in our country.

"I am determined our groundbreaking strategy will prevent women and girls from actually being harmed in the first place.

"Put together, from today, it will deploy the full power of the state to introduce the largest crackdown to stop violence perpetrated against women and girls in British history."