Support is available for all victims in West Yorkshire affected by temporary changes to automatic prisoner release dates coming into force nationally on 1 October, 2026.
The link below takes you to the BBC website should you need to exit quickly, it does not erase browser history.
The lengths of some prison sentences are temporarily changing following new national legislation being introduced by the government.
From October, some offenders serving the most common type of prison sentences can be released after a third of the time in custody, with the remaining period supervised in the community on licence.
Without urgent action at a national level to free up prison places, new offenders, including those who have committed serious crimes, cannot be sentenced putting the most vulnerable in our society at risk.
In addition to a long-term prison expansion programme, there will be more investment and a greater focus on rehabilitation to cut reoffending and reduce the harm caused to our communities in the first place.
We recognise the level of concern and anxiety individuals have around these changes, which is why we’re working with partners to ensure victims and survivors across the region understand what the changes mean for them, how they will be kept informed, additional safeguards available and how to access support.
If you’ve been affected, you can contact Victim Support West Yorkshire at any time online through their website or by calling 0300 303 1971.
The government has funded a new dedicated national helpline that is free to use for anyone affected by the changes, providing emotional support, practical advice and a safe space to talk people through how they can access the support they need. Call 0808 168 9280 or visit the helpline's website.
Here in West Yorkshire, there will be additional help for victims affected by the changes, so they feel safe, informed and supported. The Combined Authority is working with Victim Support to ensure our local services deliver appropriate support for those impacted and boost capacity where demand increases. A new Victims’ Champion in West Yorkshire will provide dedicated and visible support.
In addition, we’ll be funding a range of safety measures to further safeguard victims, such as use of forensic marking spray packs, video doorbells and dedicated mobile phone applications to provide an enhanced police response.
The region is already leading the way on rehabilitation by solving problems that often lead to offending through our women’s whole systems approach, while new Women’s Intensive Supervision Court pilots are being piloted in Leeds and Wakefield.
It’s important that support for victims and survivors in West Yorkshire is consistent and the new Victims’ Champion will be working closely with partners including police, probation, courts and other teams working in the criminal justice system. They will act as a single point of contact for any referrals for local support and provide clear communications between all the agencies involved.
Details on how to refer victims for support are available on Victim Support West Yorkshire’s website. You can also email westyorkshire.varc@victimsupport.org.uk
