Offenders posing national security threat facing longer jail terms

Instead, they must be thoroughly risk assessed by the Parole Board before they are let out of prison after serving no less than two-thirds of their term behind bars. Once released, they will be subject to rigorous supervision and some of the toughest monitoring conditions until the end of their term plus an extra year.

The Government states that these changes will strengthen public protection and send a clear warning to foreign powers with malicious motives.

Clear warning

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said: “Keeping the British people safe is our foremost priority as a Government. Those conspiring against this country should see this new measure as a clear warning. Public protection will always come first and threatening activity by foreign powers will always be punished.”

Jake Richards (Minister for Sentencing, Youth Justice and International) added: “This new measure, which is part of the historic Sentencing Act, cracks down on the most dangerous offenders to keep them behind bars for longer.

We will do whatever it takes to keep our country and people safe.”

Security Minister Dan Jarvis observed: “States are deploying new hostile tactics on our streets, using proxies to do their dirty work and targeting our national infrastructure with cyber attacks. Our police and Security Services have strong powers to defend and defeat these threats, but those responsible must face tougher consequences. This is why we are introducing new laws so that anyone intent on compromising our national security for a foreign state will face longer behind bars.”

The historic Sentencing Act received Royal Assent in January. Firmly gripping the prison crisis, it will make sure future Governments always have the prison places needed to lock up the most dangerous offenders.

Tagging expansion

The news comes just days after the Government announced £100 million of investment in the biggest expansion of tagging in British history, putting thousands of extra thieves and burglars across the country under tough GPS and alcohol monitoring.

The Sentencing Act 2026 follows the Independent Sentencing Review led by David Gauke, which was published back in May 2025.  Key reforms contained in the Act include:   

*tougher community punishments such as new powers for Judges to bar criminals from pubs, concerts and sports matches, curtailing offenders’ freedoms as punishment, financial penalties that force offenders to pay back for their crimes or unpaid work orders that force offenders to give back to society

*new ‘restriction zones’ to restrict offenders to a certain area, allowing victims to travel without fear of seeing them