Switalskis has welcomed this week's Parliamentary debate on changes to the Sentencing Act, saying it is encouraging to see MPs recognising the impact that the early release of offenders convicted of sexual offences can have on survivors.

Earlier this week, Switalskis shared a letter with MPs that was written by survivors of sexual abuse. The letter calls on Parliament to ensure survivors' safety, dignity and recovery remain at the heart of decisions about offender release.

In the letter, survivors explain:

"For us, this is not an abstract policy issue. It is about whether we can lie down at night without fear, whether we can move through our own communities without feeling exposed, and whether the justice system still sees us as people who need protecting."

Following the debate, the survivors said:

"Whilst we are hugely disappointed that Labour abstained on the vote to make amendments to the Sentencing Act, given the seriousness of this issue, which is a cross-party issue. We welcome the fact that Parliament is now debating the impact of early release on survivors of sexual abuse. For many of us, simply knowing our experiences are being heard is an important step forward. We hope MPs from across the political spectrum will listen to survivors and work together to ensure the justice system protects us not only when an offender is convicted, but throughout their sentence and when decisions are made about their release. We do not want anyone else to experience the fear and uncertainty that so many of us have felt. We will continue to fight until they do"

Amy Clowrey , Director and Solicitor in the Abuse Team at Switalskis, said:

"Every day, we support survivors who are rebuilding their lives after experiencing sexual abuse. For many, knowing the person who abused them is serving their sentence provides an important sense of safety. As the survivors' letter makes clear, a prison sentence is not only about punishment. It is also the period in which survivors know the offender cannot come near them or turn up where they live.

"The prospect of that sentence being reduced reopens trauma, reignites fear and leaves survivors feeling that their wellbeing has become secondary to wider pressures on the prison system. Survivors have described the impact as devastating, saying the worry starts again immediately as they think about where they can go, whether they might encounter the offender, and whether they will receive enough information to keep themselves safe.

"We recognise the pressures facing the prison system, but survivors of sexual abuse should not bear the consequences of those pressures. Decisions about offender release must place survivors' safety and wellbeing at their heart.

"Where release does take place, there must be stronger legal safeguards. Survivors should not be approached through a generic letter, but contacted directly, sensitively and in good time, in a way that recognises the trauma involved and gives them enough information to consider their safety, their family and the support they may need. Robust risk assessments should be carried out, appropriate safeguarding measures must be in place, and access to support should be available before an offender returns to the community.

"We are pleased to see MPs taking this issue seriously. We now hope the debate leads to swift and meaningful action that gives survivors confidence the justice system will continue to protect them long after a conviction has been secured."

The survivors' letter also highlights the wider impact that early release can have on families and communities. Survivors describe sleepless nights, worsening mental health and, in some cases, considering moving home simply to feel safe.

As the letter says:

"Early release is not just about prison numbers or dates on a file. It is about what happens to us when we are told, after everything, that the person who abused us may be out sooner than we were led to believe."

The letter calls for offenders convicted of sexual offences to be excluded from early release provisions. It also asks for a clear legal duty to notify survivors well in advance of an offender's release, for robust risk assessments to consider the impact on survivors and their families, and for appropriate safeguarding and support to be in place before release.

It also highlights the needs of people who shared information with the police during investigations but were not formal complainants in criminal proceedings. These individuals may still face significant fear and anxiety if an offender is released and should not be overlooked when decisions about release are made.

Switalskis continues to call for changes to the Sentencing Act that strengthen survivors' rights, improve victim notification and ensure survivors of sexual abuse remain protected, informed and supported throughout an offender's sentence and beyond.

How Switalskis can help

At Switalskis, our specialist abuse solicitors have decades of experience in representing survivors of child sexual exploitation. We understand every case can be highly emotional for clients, and often come with complex legal challenges. Therefore, our specialist team are dedicated to providing a supportive and professional environment for clients to feel confident to seek advice. We are committed to ensuring our clients recieve the compensation they deserve.

If you have been impacted and would like to disuss your experience in confidence, our specialist abuse team can help. Call us on 0808 258 8041 , email help@switalskis.com , or fill out the form below.